BILL ANALYSIS Corrections Committee By: Goolsby 04-18-95 Committee Report (Amended) BACKGROUND Before a prisoner is released on parole or mandatory supervision in Texas, the pardons and paroles division is required to send notification to the victims, or persons close to a victim, of the prisoner's upcoming release. A person is entitled to this notification if they filed a victim impact statement, or a request for notification of a parole consideration, with the pardons and paroles division. PURPOSE H.B. 30 would require notification to a victim of a prisoner's release on parole or mandatory supervision be mailed 30 days prior to release, and sent by certified mail, return receipt requested. The bill would also require the institutional division to not release a prisoner until the notification to the victim has been verified. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1: Amends Section 8(f)(3), Article 42.18, Code of Criminal Procedure, by requiring the pardons and paroles division to notify the appropriate victims of a prisoner being released on parole or mandatory supervision 30 days prior to the release, and that the notification be sent by registered mail, return receipt requested. The institutional division may not release the prisoner until the notification to the victim has been verified. SECTION 2: Effective date: September 1, 1995. SECTION 3: Emergency clause. EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS The proposed committee amendment changes the type of mail to be used to notify the victim from "registered" to "certified." SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION H.B. 30 was considered by the Committee on Corrections in a public hearing on March 7, 1995. The Chair recognized Representative Goolsby to explain the bill. The Chair recognized the following person to testify neutrally on the bill: James A. Collins, representing the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The bill was left pending. H.B. 30 was considered by the committee in a public hearing on April 18, 1995. The committee considered one amendment to the bill. The amendment was adopted without objection. The bill was reported favorably, as amended, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed, by a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, and 3 absent.