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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the vote required to release certain inmates on parole. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 508.046, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 508.046. EXTRAORDINARY VOTE REQUIRED. (a) Except as |
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provided by Subsection (b), to [To] release on parole an inmate who |
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was convicted of an offense under Section 20A.03, 21.02, |
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21.11(a)(1), or 22.021, Penal Code, or who is required under |
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Section 508.145(c) to serve 35 calendar years before becoming |
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eligible for release on parole, all members of the board must vote |
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on the release on parole of the inmate, and at least two-thirds of |
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the members must vote in favor of the release on parole. A member of |
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the board may not vote on the release unless the member first |
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receives a copy of a written report from the department on the |
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probability that the inmate would commit an offense after being |
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released on parole. |
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(b) This section does not apply to an inmate serving a |
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determinate sentence resulting from a disposition by a juvenile |
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court under Section 54.04(d)(3), 54.04(m), or 54.05(f), Family |
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Code. |
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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 immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |