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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the release of certain inmates on parole; changing |
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parole eligibility. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 508.144, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) The parole guidelines must require a parole panel to |
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consider the following as mitigating factors favoring parole |
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approval: |
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(1) for an inmate serving a sentence for an offense |
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committed when the inmate was younger than 26 years of age, the |
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diminished culpability that accompanies the hallmark features of |
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youth, including immaturity, impetuousness, and the failure to |
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appreciate risks and consequences; |
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(2) an inmate's current age and relevant data |
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regarding the decline in criminality as individuals age; and |
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(3) if provided to the parole panel, any opinion in |
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support of an inmate's release on parole from: |
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(A) the attorney representing the state in the |
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prosecution of the offense for which the inmate is serving a |
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sentence; or |
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(B) the judge that imposed the inmate's sentence. |
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SECTION 2. Section 508.145, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (g) to read as follows: |
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(g)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section |
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and except as provided by Subdivision (2): |
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(A) an inmate who is 35 years of age or older but |
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younger than 50 years of age is not eligible for release on parole |
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until the inmate's actual calendar time served, without |
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consideration of good conduct time, equals 20 calendar years or the |
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applicable time provided by another provision of this section, |
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whichever is less; and |
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(B) an inmate who is 50 years of age or older is |
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not eligible for release on parole until the inmate's actual |
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calendar time served, without consideration of good conduct time, |
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equals 15 calendar years or the applicable time provided by another |
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provision of this section, whichever is less. |
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(2) This subsection does not apply to an inmate |
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described by Subsection (a), (b), (c), or (d)(1)(A), other than an |
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inmate serving a sentence for an offense under Section 29.03, Penal |
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Code. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Board of Pardons and Paroles shall modify the |
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parole guidelines to be in conformity with Section 508.144(a-1), |
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Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies to any |
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inmate who is confined in a facility operated by or under contract |
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with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on or after the |
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effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the offense for |
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which the inmate is confined occurred before, on, or after the |
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effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |