S.B. No. 917




AN ACT

relating to the time during which inmates may be considered for 
release on parole.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.   Section 508.141, Government Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
	(g)  The policy board shall adopt a policy establishing the 
date on which the board may reconsider for release an inmate who has 
previously been denied release.  The policy must require the board 
to reconsider for release an inmate serving a sentence for an 
offense listed in Section 508.149(a) during a month designated by 
the parole panel that denied release.  The designated month must 
begin after the first anniversary of the date of the denial and end 
before the fifth anniversary of the date of the denial.  The policy 
must require the board to reconsider for release an inmate other 
than an inmate serving a sentence for an offense listed in Section 
508.149(a) as soon as practicable after the first anniversary of 
the date of the denial.
	SECTION 2.   The policy board of the Board of Pardons and 
Paroles shall adopt the reconsideration policy required by 
Subsection (g), Section 508.141, Government Code, as added by this 
Act, not later than January 1, 2004.
	SECTION 3.   This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.





______________________________    ______________________________
President of the Senate             Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 917 passed the Senate on 
April 16, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that 
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 23, 2003, by the 
following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.




______________________________ 
   Secretary of the Senate             
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 917 passed the House, with 
amendment, on May 16, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, 
Nays 0, one present not voting.




______________________________ 
   Chief Clerk of the House            



Approved:


______________________________ 
            Date



______________________________ 
          Governor