The 81st Legislative session might not start until January, but lawmakers will get a jump on things beginning today, by filing a spate of pre-filed bills.
Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, is leading the pack, filing today a host of proposed legislation — including four bills he’s dubbed his “innocence protection package,” which seek to reform the eyewitness identification procedures used by police (SB 117), require video recording of police interrogations (SB 116), establish an Innocence Commission (SB 115, a now perennial proposal), and give the guv the power to grant multiple reprieves in capital cases (SB 169).
Ellis’ other bills cover education, veterans affairs, health care, voter protection, insurance, and energy.
This article appears in November 7 • 2008.