State Lawmakers To Pass Special Session Bills

AUSTIN (AP) - Texas lawmakers are scheduled to approve redistricting maps and a new sentence for juveniles who commit capital crimes as they face key deadlines in the special legislative session.

The Texas House is expected to meet Friday morning, and the Senate meets in the afternoon.

The House is expected to approve a mandatory sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole in 40 years for 17-year-olds who commit capital murder. The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that life in prison without paroles was cruel and unusual punishment for minors.

House members are also expected to give final approval to political maps largely drawn by federal judges for the 2012 elections. Lawmakers made only minor changes to the Texas House districts.

Lawmakers have until Tuesday to pass special session legislation.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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