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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the consideration of certain information by a parole |
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panel in determining whether to release an inmate on parole. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 508, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 508.1415 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 508.1415. ADDITIONAL PAROLE CONSIDERATIONS. (a) The |
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board shall adopt rules requiring a parole panel considering an |
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inmate for release on parole to issue a subpoena under Section |
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508.048 for the production of disciplinary records relating to the |
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inmate that are maintained by the Texas Education Agency. The rules |
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must provide that the existence or contents of the subpoena and |
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information obtained in response to the subpoena are not to be |
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disclosed to any person other than the board and the parole panel. |
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The consideration of disciplinary records by a parole panel as |
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required by Subsection (b) is a law enforcement purpose. |
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(b) In determining whether to release an inmate on parole, a |
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parole panel shall consider: |
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(1) disciplinary records obtained under Subsection |
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(a); |
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(2) relevant information available on the inmate's |
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social media accounts; and |
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(3) statements submitted under Subsection (c). |
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(c) Not later than the 21st day before the date a parole |
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panel considers an inmate for release on parole, the department |
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shall publish a notice on the department's Internet website and in a |
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newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the inmate |
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was convicted. The notice must state: |
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(1) the inmate's name; |
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(2) the county in which the inmate was convicted; |
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(3) the offense for which the inmate was convicted; |
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(4) that persons residing in the county in which the |
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inmate was convicted may submit a written statement to the parole |
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panel; and |
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(5) the manner and period in which a person described |
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by Subdivision (4) may submit a written statement to the parole |
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panel. |
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(d) The period provided for the submission of written |
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statements under Subsection (c) may not be less than 10 days. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2023, the Board of |
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Pardons and Paroles shall adopt the rules required by Section |
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508.1415, Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. Section 508.1415, Government Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies only to the consideration by a parole panel of the |
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release of an inmate on parole that occurs on or after December 1, |
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2023. The consideration by a parole panel of the release of an |
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inmate that occurs before December 1, 2023, is governed by the law |
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in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |