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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of certain legislative committees to |
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investigate alleged violations of law by state officials, |
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employees, and agencies. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 301.0215 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 301.0215. INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY OF OTHER |
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COMMITTEES. (a) In this section, "misconduct" includes a wilful or |
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intentional violation of law, conduct that constitutes a criminal |
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offense, a violation of standards of conduct established by law, or |
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a violation of law involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, an |
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obstruction of justice, or the misuse of public resources. |
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(b) The House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence and |
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Senate Committee on Jurisprudence, or a successor standing |
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committee to either of those committees with jurisdiction in the |
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applicable house over legislation relating to general criminal law, |
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may initiate or continue inquiries and hearings concerning |
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allegations of misconduct by state officials, employees, or |
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agencies regarding the conduct of public business or the |
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expenditure of state funds. |
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(c) In enacting this section, each house of the legislature |
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is exercising its constitutional authority to determine the rules |
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of its own proceedings. The requirements of this section are |
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cumulative of any other requirements of law or rule regarding |
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committees of the legislature. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |