86R26361 E
 
  By: Bowers H.B. No. 2559
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the issuance of a summons for certain persons charged
  with a violation of a condition of release on parole or to mandatory
  supervision.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 508.251, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (c) and (c-1) and adding Subsection (c-2) to
  read as follows:
         (c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), instead [Instead] of
  the issuance of a warrant under this section, the division shall [:
               [(1)  may] issue to the person a summons requiring the
  person to appear for a hearing under Section 508.281 if the person:
               (1)  [(A)]  is not a releasee who is:
                     (A)  [(i)]  on intensive supervision or
  superintensive supervision;
                     (B)  [(ii)]  an absconder; or
                     (C)  [(iii)]  determined by the division to be a
  threat to public safety; [or]
                     (D)  is not serving a sentence for, and has not
  been previously convicted of, an offense listed in or described by
  Article 62.001(5), Code of Criminal Procedure; or
               (2)  [(B)]  is not a releasee described in Paragraph
  (1) and is charged only with committing:
                     (A)  a new offense that is alleged to have been
  committed after the first anniversary of the date the person was
  released on parole or to mandatory supervision if:
                           (i)  the new offense is a Class C misdemeanor
  under the Penal Code, other than an offense committed against a
  child younger than 17 years of age or an offense involving family
  violence, as defined by Section 71.004, Family Code;
                           (ii)  the person has maintained steady
  employment for at least one year;
                           (iii)  the person has maintained a stable
  residence for at least one year; and
                           (iv)  the person has not previously been
  charged with an offense after the person was released on parole or
  to mandatory supervision; or
                     (B)  [and
               [(2)     shall issue to the person a summons requiring the
  person to appear for a hearing under Section 508.281 if the person:
                     [(A)  is charged only with committing] an
  administrative violation of release that is alleged to have been
  committed after the first anniversary of the date the person was
  released on parole or to mandatory supervision [;
                     [(B)     is not serving a sentence for, and has not
  been previously convicted of, an offense listed in or described by
  Article 62.001(5), Code of Criminal Procedure; and
                     [(C)     is not a releasee with respect to whom a
  summons may not be issued under Subdivision (1)].
         (c-1)  A warrant may not be issued for the return of a person
  described by Subsection (c) unless the person has previously failed
  to appear for a hearing in response to a summons issued under that
  subsection.
         (c-2)  A summons issued under Subsection (c) must state the
  time, date, place, and purpose of the hearing.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.