LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT STATEMENT
 
84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 18, 2015

TO:
Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
 
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1914 by Bonnen, Dennis (Relating to the frequency with which the Board of Pardons and Paroles considers the eligibility of certain inmates for release on parole.), As Engrossed

The bill would amend the Government Code as it relates to parole reconsideration for inmates convicted of aggravated sexual assault and capital felonies in which the sentence was imposed was life imprisonment. Under the provisions of the bill, the Board of Pardons and Paroles (BPP) could delay reconsidering the release of these offenders to parole for up to ten years after the date of the previous denial.  Under current law the BPP can delay reconsidering an offender's release for up to five years after the date of their previous denial. 

By allowing the BPP to delay reconsideration of certain offenders for release to parole, the bill's provisions could increase their length of incarceration. Increasing the length of incarceration for any criminal offense is expected to increase demands on state correctional agency resources. However, the bill's provisions do not affect parole eligibility criteria and only provide the BPP the option to delay reconsideration.  It is assumed these provisions would not have a significant impact on length of stay and, as a result, would not significantly impact state correctional agencies' workload and programs.




Source Agencies:
LBB Staff:
UP, LM, ESi, GG, JPo