LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 6, 2009

TO:	Honorable Jim McReynolds, Chair, House Committee on Corrections
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1206 by Hinojosa (Relating to the release from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice of certain inmates who complete a rehabilitation program. ), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Government Code to require the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to receive approval from the Board of Pardons and Paroles to place an inmate in a different rehabilitation program than the one ordered by the parole panel if the inmate is required to complete a specific department rehabiliation program before release.

The bill would also require TDCJ to inform the parole panel if an inmate has satisfied all conditions of release before the specified release date for the purposes of considering the inmate for immediate release. While this provision could potentially result in savings by reducing the number of days an inmate waits for parole release, the reduction in the number of days that an inmate is incarcerated cannot be determined due to the provision that would require the parole panel to reopen an inmate's file for consideration of his immediate release. 

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JOB, ESi, JI, YD