| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the award of time credits to certain persons released on |
|
|
parole or to mandatory supervision. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 508, Government Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 508.1559 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 508.1559. TIME CREDITS FOR COMPLETION OF CERTAIN |
|
|
CONDITIONS OF PAROLE OR MANDATORY SUPERVISION. (a) This section |
|
|
applies only to a releasee who: |
|
|
(1) is serving a sentence for an offense punishable as |
|
|
a felony of the third degree, other than an offense: |
|
|
(A) included as a reportable conviction or |
|
|
adjudication under Article 62.001(5), Code of Criminal Procedure; |
|
|
(B) involving family violence as defined by |
|
|
Section 71.004, Family Code; or |
|
|
(C) under Section 20.03, Penal Code; and |
|
|
(2) has fully satisfied any order to pay restitution |
|
|
to a victim. |
|
|
(b) A releasee is entitled to time credits toward the |
|
|
completion of the releasee's period of parole or mandatory |
|
|
supervision in an amount equal to seven days for each month in which |
|
|
the releasee is in compliance with the conditions of the releasee's |
|
|
parole or mandatory supervision. |
|
|
(c) In addition to the time credits to which a releasee is |
|
|
entitled under Subsection (b), a releasee is entitled to receive |
|
|
any combination of time credits toward the completion of the |
|
|
releasee's period of parole or mandatory supervision in accordance |
|
|
with Subsections (d), (e), and (f) if the releasee was required as a |
|
|
condition of parole or mandatory supervision to: |
|
|
(1) make a payment described by Subsection (d); |
|
|
(2) complete a treatment or rehabilitation program |
|
|
described by Subsection (e); or |
|
|
(3) earn a diploma, certificate, or degree described |
|
|
by Subsection (f). |
|
|
(d) A releasee is entitled to time credits toward the |
|
|
completion of the releasee's period of parole or mandatory |
|
|
supervision for the full payment of court costs, fines, attorney's |
|
|
fees, and restitution as follows: |
|
|
(1) court costs: 15 days; |
|
|
(2) fines: 30 days; |
|
|
(3) attorney's fees: 30 days; and |
|
|
(4) restitution: 60 days. |
|
|
(e) A releasee is entitled to time credits toward the |
|
|
completion of the releasee's period of parole or mandatory |
|
|
supervision for the successful completion of treatment or |
|
|
rehabilitation programs as follows: |
|
|
(1) parenting class or parental responsibility |
|
|
program: 30 days; |
|
|
(2) anger management program: 30 days; |
|
|
(3) life skills training program: 30 days; |
|
|
(4) vocational, technical, or career education or |
|
|
training program: 60 days; |
|
|
(5) alcohol or substance abuse counseling or |
|
|
treatment: 90 days; |
|
|
(6) mental health program: 90 days; and |
|
|
(7) any other faith-based, volunteer, or |
|
|
community-based program ordered or approved by the parole panel: 30 |
|
|
days. |
|
|
(f) A releasee is entitled to time credits toward the |
|
|
completion of the releasee's period of parole or mandatory |
|
|
supervision for earning the following diplomas, certificates, or |
|
|
degrees: |
|
|
(1) a high school diploma or high school equivalency |
|
|
certificate: 90 days; and |
|
|
(2) an associate degree: 120 days. |
|
|
(g) If a releasee's parole or mandatory supervision is |
|
|
revoked, all of the time credits to which the releasee is entitled |
|
|
under this section are forfeited and may not be credited toward the |
|
|
remaining portion of the releasee's sentence. |
|
|
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
|
|
to a person who is released on parole or to mandatory supervision |
|
|
for an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
|
|
A person who is released on parole or to mandatory supervision for |
|
|
an offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
|
|
governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, |
|
|
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For |
|
|
purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the |
|
|
effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred |
|
|
before that date. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |