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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the release from the Texas Department of Criminal |
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Justice of certain inmates who complete a rehabilitation program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 508.141, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (b-1), (d-1), and (d-2) and amending Subsection |
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(d) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) If a parole panel requires, as a condition of release, |
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that an inmate complete a specific department rehabilitation |
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program before release, the department shall place the inmate in |
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the program specified by the parole panel, except that the |
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department may place the inmate in a different program with the |
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approval of the parole panel. |
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(d) A parole panel may release an inmate on parole during |
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the parole month established for the inmate, or during any |
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applicable range of dates established under Subsection (d-1), if |
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the panel determines that the inmate's release will not increase |
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the likelihood of harm to the public. |
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(d-1) A parole panel that, as a condition of release, |
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requires an inmate to complete a specific department rehabilitation |
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program shall specify a range of dates, based on the date the inmate |
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is likely to have completed the specified program, during which the |
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department may release the inmate, if the inmate has: |
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(1) successfully completed the program specified by |
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the parole panel; and |
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(2) satisfied all other conditions of release |
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specified by the parole panel. |
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(d-2) The range of dates specified by the parole panel under |
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Subsection (d-1) may not begin earlier than the 45th day before any |
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applicable release date established for the inmate and must be a |
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range of at least 30 days. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to any |
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inmate who is confined in a facility operated by or under contract |
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with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on or after the |
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effective date of this Act, regardless of when the inmate's period |
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of confinement began. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |