BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2888

By: Romero, Jr.

Corrections

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that some inmates eligible for parole who are required to complete certain classes or programs based on their respective individual treatment plans as a condition of release wait until after their initial parole eligibility dates to enroll in such courses, which extends their detention. C.S.H.B. 2888 seeks to remedy this situation by requiring the Board of Pardons and Paroles to identify classes or programs it intends to require an inmate to complete before releasing the inmate on parole and requiring the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to provide inmates with a list of those classes or programs and to make reasonable efforts to provide inmates the opportunity to timely complete such classes or programs.

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

C.S.H.B. 2888 amends the Government Code to require the Board of Pardons and Paroles to identify any classes or programs that the board intends to require an inmate to complete before releasing the inmate on parole and to require the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to provide the inmate with a list of those classes or programs. The bill requires TDCJ to make reasonable efforts to provide an inmate the opportunity to complete any classes or programs included in the inmate's individual treatment plan, other than classes or programs that are to be completed immediately before the inmate's release on parole, in a timely manner so that the inmate's release on parole is not delayed due to any uncompleted classes or programs.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 2888 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Section 508.152, Government Code, is amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows: (c)  The board shall conduct an initial review of an eligible inmate not later than the 180th day after the date of the inmate's admission to the institutional division.  The board shall identify any classes or programs that the board intends to require the inmate to complete before releasing the inmate on parole. The department shall provide the inmate with a list of those classes or programs. (d-1)  The department shall take reasonable measures to ensure that an inmate has the opportunity to complete any classes or programs identified by the board under Subsection (c) before the inmate's initial parole eligibility date computed under Section 508.145.	SECTION 1.  Sections 508.152(b-2) and (c), Government Code, are amended to read as follows: (c)  The board shall conduct an initial review of an eligible inmate not later than the 180th day after the date of the inmate's admission to the institutional division.  The board shall identify any classes or programs that the board intends to require the inmate to complete before releasing the inmate on parole. The department shall provide the inmate with a list of those classes or programs. (b-2)  At least once in every 12-month period, the department shall review each inmate's individual treatment plan to assess the inmate's institutional progress and revise or update the plan as necessary.  The department shall make reasonable efforts to provide an inmate the opportunity to complete any classes or programs included in the inmate's individual treatment plan, other than classes or programs that are to be completed immediately before the inmate's release on parole, in a timely manner so that the inmate's release on parole is not delayed due to any uncompleted classes or programs.
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.