By Goolsby, et al. H.B. No. 30
74R1806 GWK-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the right of a victim of a criminal offense to receive
1-3 notice before the individual who committed the offense is released
1-4 on parole or mandatory supervision.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Section 8(f)(3), Article 42.18, Code of Criminal
1-7 Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
1-8 (3) If a victim, guardian of a victim, or close
1-9 relative of a deceased victim would be entitled to notification of
1-10 parole consideration by the pardons and paroles division but for
1-11 failure by that person to provide a victim impact statement
1-12 containing the person's name and address, the person is nonetheless
1-13 entitled to receive notice if the person files with the pardons and
1-14 paroles division a written request for that notification. After
1-15 receiving such a written request, the pardons and paroles division
1-16 shall grant to the person all the privileges to which the person
1-17 would be entitled had the person submitted a victim impact
1-18 statement. Not later than the 30th day before the date <Before> a
1-19 prisoner is released from the institutional division on parole or
1-20 <on the release of a prisoner on> mandatory supervision, the
1-21 pardons and paroles division shall give notice by registered mail,
1-22 return receipt requested, of the release to any person entitled to
1-23 notification of parole consideration for the prisoner because the
1-24 person filed with the pardons and paroles division a victim impact
2-1 statement or a request for notification of a parole consideration.
2-2 The institutional division may not release a prisoner unless the
2-3 pardons and paroles division certifies to the institutional
2-4 division that it has provided notice of the prisoner's release in
2-5 the manner required by this subdivision.
2-6 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
2-7 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-8 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-9 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-10 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-11 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
2-12 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1
2-13 Amend H.B. No. 30 on page 1, line 21, by striking
2-14 "registered" and substituting "certified".
2-15 74R8208 GWK-D Pitts