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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 1914

By: Bonnen, Dennis

Corrections

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

The Board of Pardons and Paroles is currently required to adopt a policy establishing the date on which the board may reconsider for release on parole an inmate who has previously been denied release. For many inmates, reconsideration must take place as soon as practicable after the first anniversary of the date of the denial. However, for certain more severe offenses, reconsideration takes place during a month designated by the parole panel that must fall between the first anniversary of the date of the denial and the fifth anniversary of that date. Interested parties have suggested that parole reviews for an inmate serving a life sentence for capital murder or a sentence for aggravated sexual assault should be able to occur less frequently. H.B. 1914 seeks to address this issue.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

H.B. 1914 amends the Government Code to create an exception to the requirement that the month during which the Board of Pardons and Paroles is required to reconsider for release certain inmates, as designated by the parole panel that denied release, begin after the first anniversary of the date of the denial and end before the fifth anniversary of the date of the denial for an inmate who is serving a sentence for an aggravated sexual assault offense or a life sentence for a capital felony. The bill requires the designated month for such an inmate to begin after the first anniversary of the date of the denial and end before the 10th anniversary of the date of the denial.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2015.