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Senate committee votes to abolish special criminal-justice oversight panel; oversight advocates urge revival instead
Summary
The committee voted to remove a long-dormant Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight Committee from statute; civil-rights groups opposed abolishing the body and urged reviving it with clearer duties and meeting frequency. The committee initially recorded a 5–1 vote and later adjusted to 6–0 after a recall and roll-call change.
The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice voted to abolish a legislative Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight Committee that had not met for nearly two decades, drawing opposition from advocates who said the state still needs year-round oversight of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Senate Bill 8 60 would repeal the 2007 committee and remove statutory references requiring certain agencies to report to that oversight panel, redirecting reporting obligations to standing House and Senate committees with criminal-justice jurisdiction. Sponsor testimony characterized the measure as…
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