85R11226 KJE-D     By: Frullo H.B. No. 2736       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a succession plan for a regional public defender's   office that primarily handles capital cases.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 79, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 79.042 to read as follows:          Sec. 79.042.  SUCCESSION PLAN FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC DEFENDERS'   OFFICES.  (a)  In this section, "governmental entity" has the   meaning assigned by Article 26.044, Code of Criminal Procedure.          (b)  As a condition of a grant awarded by the commission to a   regional public defender's office that primarily handles capital   cases, the commission may establish for the public defender's   office a succession plan to take effect only if the commissioners   court of the county in which the central administrative office of   the public defender's office is located ceases for any reason to be   a party to the agreement creating or designating the public   defender's office.          (c)  A succession plan established under Subsection (b) may:                (1)  authorize the commission to designate a   governmental entity to administer the regional public defender's   office;                 (2)  require the governmental entity designated under   Subdivision (1) to establish an oversight board for the regional   public defender's office under Article 26.045, Code of Criminal   Procedure; and                (3)  require the regional public defender's office to   comply with any rules adopted by the commission for the   administration of the public defender's office.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2017.