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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the release on parole of certain inmates during a public |
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health emergency. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 508, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 508.1455 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 508.1455. RELEASE ON PAROLE OF CERTAIN INMATES DURING |
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PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. (a) In this section, "public health |
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emergency" means an immediate threat from a communicable disease as |
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defined by Section 81.003, Health and Safety Code, that: |
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(1) poses a high risk of death or serious long-term |
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disability to a large number of people in the general population; |
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and |
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(2) creates a substantial risk of public exposure |
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because of the disease's high level of contagion or the method by |
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which the disease is transmitted. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other law and regardless of whether |
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an inmate has completed any classes or programs that the board has |
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previously ordered the inmate to complete before being released on |
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parole, a parole panel shall consider for release and release on |
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parole an inmate who is eligible for release on parole if the inmate |
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is confined in a facility that is directly affected by a public |
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health emergency and: |
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(1) at least 25 percent of the inmates confined in the |
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facility are infected or suspected of being infected with the |
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communicable disease related to the public health emergency; or |
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(2) the inmate has a high risk of developing serious |
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symptoms or complications from the disease as determined by |
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guidelines established by the federal Centers for Disease Control |
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and Prevention. |
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(c) This section expires September 1, 2024. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to any |
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inmate who is confined in a facility operated by or under contract |
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with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on or after the |
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effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the offense for |
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which the inmate is confined occurred before, on, or after the |
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effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |