87R5051 JSC-D     By: Dutton H.B. No. 748       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the restoration of civil rights to a criminal   defendant.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Article 48.05(a)(2), Code of Criminal Procedure,   is amended to read as follows:                (2)  This article applies to:                      (A)  a federal offense, other than an offense   involving:                            (i)  violence or the threat of violence;                            (ii)  drugs; or                            (iii)  firearms; [and]                      (B)  an offense under the laws of another country,   other than an offense involving:                            (i)  violence or the threat of violence;                            (ii)  drugs; or                            (iii)  firearms, if the elements of the   offense are substantially similar to elements of an offense under   the laws of this state punishable as a felony; and                      (C)  an offense under the laws of this state,   other than an offense involving:                            (i)  violence or the threat of violence;                            (ii)  drugs; or                            (iii)  firearms, if the offense is   punishable as a felony.          SECTION 2.  Article 48.05(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  An individual may not apply for restoration of civil   rights under this article unless:                (1)  the individual has completed the sentence for the   offense; and                (2)  the conviction occurred[:                      [(A)]  three or more years before the date of   application[, if the offense is a federal offense; or                      [(B)  two or more years before the date of   application, if the offense is an offense under the laws of another   country; and                [(3)  the individual has not been convicted at any   other time of an offense under the laws of this state, another   state, or the United States].          SECTION 3.  This Act applies to a defendant who is convicted   of an offense before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.