87R2957 JRR-D
 
  By: Wilson H.B. No. 721
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the release to mandatory supervision of certain inmates
  confined in a county jail.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 508, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 508.1471 to read as follows:
         Sec. 508.1471.  RELEASE TO MANDATORY SUPERVISION OF CERTAIN
  INMATES CONFINED IN COUNTY JAIL. (a) This section applies only to
  an inmate who, at the time the inmate is sentenced to a term of
  imprisonment in the department, is:
               (1)  confined in a county jail; and
               (2)  eligible for immediate release to mandatory
  supervision.
         (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, the department must take
  custody of an inmate to whom this section applies before the inmate
  may be released to mandatory supervision.
         (c)  As soon as practicable after taking an inmate into
  custody under Subsection (b), the department shall provide notice
  to a victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a deceased
  victim that the inmate is eligible for release to mandatory
  supervision. The notice must be sent to the address provided in the
  victim impact statement or submitted under Section 508.117(b) and
  must state that the victim, guardian, or close relative may submit,
  not later than the 14th day after the date of the notice, a written
  statement to the parole panel considering the inmate's release
  regarding:
               (1)  the offense;
               (2)  the inmate; and
               (3)  the effect of the offense on the victim, guardian,
  or close relative.
         (d)  Notwithstanding any other law, the parole panel may
  interview a victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a
  deceased victim regarding the release of the inmate to mandatory
  supervision.
         (e)  In this section, "victim," "guardian of a victim," and
  "close relative of a deceased victim" have the meanings assigned by
  Section 508.117.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to a
  defendant who is sentenced for an offense on or after the effective
  date of this Act, regardless of whether the offense is committed
  before, on, or after that date.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.