Amend HB 2918 by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to
read as follows and by renumbering existing SECTIONS accordingly:
      SECTION ____. The legislature finds that the release of
dangerous inmates from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
sentenced under prior Texas law creates the potential for a
continuing threat to public safety.
      The legislature finds that current Texas law eliminates the
chance that dangerous inmates will be automatically released from
Texas prisons. However, many inmates sentenced under prior Texas
law are eligible for various forms of early release. Because the
United States Constitution precludes increasing the sentences of
dangerous inmates after their convictions, and because prior Texas
law allows the release of these inmates before the completion of
their sentences, there is a need to better supervise these inmates
on release.
      The legislature finds that there is a compelling state
interest in placing inmates released on parole and mandatory
supervision under the kind of supervision that will best protect
public safety.  The level of supervision of inmates released from
the Texas Department of Criminal Justice should be appropriate
based on their likelihood of committing new offenses, the nature of
their original offenses, their performance in prison programs
designed to rehabilitate inmates, and any other factor deemed by a
parole panel to be relevant to their status.
      The legislature finds that there is a need for a program of
intensive supervision of certain inmates whose histories indicate a
propensity for violence.  Regardless of whether an inmate's instant
offense is a violent offense, there is a need for careful
evaluation and review of each inmate released from prison to
determine the need for supervision of the inmate.
      The legislature intends by this measure, and by related
appropriations, to enhance existing parole programs and to provide
appropriate supervision, including electronic monitoring, under
existing and future law for dangerous inmates released from the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice.  It is the legislature's
intention that the scope of allowable supervision under this
measure and related statutes be construed in the broadest possible
manner consistent with constitutional restraints.