BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 326

By: Davis, Sarah

Corrections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note the success of statistical models in analyzing and predicting rates of recidivism for purposes of granting parole but call for a study to identify and eliminate any potential inefficiencies that exist in these assessments. H.B. 326 seeks to address this issue by requiring the Board of Pardons and Paroles to study the methods currently employed in assessing recidivism risks for purposes of parole decisions.

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. 326 amends the Government Code to require the Board of Pardons and Paroles to conduct a study on the effectiveness of the assessment components of the parole guidelines adopted by the board and used by the board and parole panels in determining which inmates should be released on parole. The bill requires the board in conducting the study to obtain information on inmates considered for parole during the period beginning January 1, 2015, and ending December 31, 2017, from the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and any other criminal justice agency with relevant information on the recidivism of those inmates. The bill authorizes the board, in conducting the study, to use information for a select group of inmates based on an acceptable research methodology. The bill requires the board, in evaluating the effectiveness of the assessments, to compare and analyze the recidivism rates and parole guideline score of the inmates used in the study and requires the board to determine for each category or score within the parole guidelines the number of inmates released on parole who are convicted of a misdemeanor offense following release on parole, the number of inmates released on parole who are convicted of a felony offense following release on parole, and the number of inmates released on parole who have had parole revoked for a reason other than a new conviction. The bill requires the board, not later than January 1, 2019, to submit a report on the results of the study to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and each member of the legislature and requires the report to include any recommendations the board considers necessary to improve the parole decision-making process. The bill's provisions expire August 31, 2019.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.