Honorable Tan Parker, Chair, House Committee On Corrections
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB512 by Thompson, Senfronia (Relating to the eligibility of certain inmates for release on medically recommended intensive supervision.), As Introduced
The bill would amend the Government Code as it relates to the eligibility of certain offenders for release onto medically recommended intensive supervision (MRIS), which is super-intensive parole supervision. The bill would eliminate the category of “elderly” from the criteria for MRIS consideration. The bill would allow the Board of Pardons and Paroles (BPP) to consider 3g and sex offenders for release on MRIS as long as the offender did not pose a public safety threat and has a physical disability, terminal illness, mental illness, intellectual and developmental disability, or requires long-term care. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2013, and only applies to MRIS considerations made on or after that date.
Expanding the number of offenders eligible for MRIS is expected to result in decreased demands upon the state’s correctional resources due to shorter terms of confinement in prison. However, it is assumed that this reduction would not significantly impact state correctional agency resources. In fiscal year 2012, 444 inmates who were 3g offenders and sex offenders were determined to be ineligible for MRIS release by the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments. It is assumed that these offenders were deemed ineligible because they were 3g and sex offenders. Under the provisions of the bill, these types of offenders would be eligible for MRIS.
If these 444 offenders were eligible for MRIS release, it is assumed that the BPP would approve these offenders for MRIS release at the same rate they approve other eligible offenders for parole. Among all cases considered in fiscal year 2012, the BPP approved 13 percent of offenders for release to parole. Of the 444 offenders assumed to be eligible for MRIS release under the bill’s provisions, 58 offenders would be assumed to be released through MRIS (or 13 percent of 444 offenders).
It is assumed that the MRIS population would increase at the rate the Texas Department of Criminal Justice incarceration population is projected to increase. Therefore, the estimated number of additional offenders released from prison to MRIS is 58 in fiscal year 2014, 58 in fiscal year 2015, 59 in fiscal year 2016, 59 in fiscal year 2017, and 60 in fiscal year 2017.