More Bills Include Death Penalty Abolition, Reduction In Penalties For Some Drug Possession Offenses, Disclosure Of Grand Jury Proceedings
Vince Leibowitz | Nov 20, 2008 | Comments 0
Almost two weeks after bill pre-filing opened in anticipation of the Texas Legislature, filing has slowed to a trickle as the Thanksgiving holidays approach. Yet, new bills are still being filed daily. Here is a look at a few filed yesterday:
HB 297 by State Rep. Harold Dutton (D-Houston) would abolish the death penalty in Texas.
HB 296 by State Rep. Harold Dutton (D-Houston) would allow grand jurors to disclose what took place in grand jury proceedings after the term of the grand jury (and any extension) has expired. This is likely a piece of legislation crafted specifically in response to the situation that developed following the indictment of Texas Supreme Court Justice David Medina and his wife last year. Two members of the grand jury that initially indicted Medina only to have those charges dismissed spoke out, and attorneys for Medina threatened to file contempt charges against the pair.
HB 287 by State Rep. Harold Dutton (D-Houston) would reduce the penalties for the lowest levels of two classifications of the offense of possession of a controlled substance from a state jail felony to a Class A Misdemeanor.
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Filed Under: 81st Texas Legislature
