Honorable Ray Allen, Chair, House Committee on Corrections
FROM:
John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1668 by Allen (Relating to the eligibility of certain inmates for release to mandatory supervision.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code by further specifying the conditions for which an inmate may not be released to mandatory supervision.Under current law, an inmate may not be released to mandatory supervision if the inmate’s accrued good conduct time is not an accurate reflection of the inmate’s potential for rehabilitation; and the inmate’s release would endanger the public.The bill would add a new provision that would specify that inmates with a parole guideline score of 1, 2, or 3 indicating a poor probability for successful completion of supervision may not be released to mandatory supervision.The continued permissive nature of the provision would make the ultimate impact of the bill difficult to estimate.Interpretation of the bill by parole board members could lead to an increase in mandatory supervision release for more inmates with parole guideline scores of 4, 5, 6, and 7 (i.e.,high probability for successful completion of supervision).Conversely, interpretation of the bill by parole board members could lead to a decrease in mandatory supervision release for inmates with parole guideline scores of 1, 2, and 3.According to data from fiscal year 2002 on inmates reviewed for mandatory supervision release, 1,385 inmates with a parole guideline score of 1, 2, and 3 were approved for discretionary mandatory supervision release.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.