Honorable James White, Chair, House Committee on Corrections
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1271 by Thompson, Senfronia (Relating to the award of good conduct time to certain inmates; changing parole eligibility.), As Introduced
The probable fiscal impact of implementing the bill is indeterminate due to the lack of data related to the amount of diligent participation time awarded while confined in a county jail. These data are necessary to calculate a new parole eligibility date for those who would be eligible for this time credit.
The bill would amend the Government Code to modify the parole eligibility date of certain incarcerated individuals. Under the provisions of the bill, certain incarcerated individuals would now be eligible for time credits for diligent participation in a program or demonstrating good behavior. The time credits would now, along with calendar time, be part of the calculation used to determine a parole eligibility date.
Allowing time credits as outlined in the bill to be part of the calculation to determine an initial parole eligibility date is expected to decrease the amount of time between initial receipt into custody and initial parole eligibility review for those who are eligible. The bill may have a positive population impact by allowing certain individuals within state correctional institutions to be reviewed for release to parole supervision earlier than under existing statute. However, a modification to the parole eligibility date is not an indication of the date an individuals would be released from a correctional institution. Additionally, the awarding of time credit to calculate a parole eligibility is not an indication of the outcome of the parole review. The fiscal impact to the State cannot be determined at this time due to a lack of data related to the type and amount of time credit an individual may be awarded while confined in county jail.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
696 Department of Criminal Justice, 697 Board of Pardons and Paroles