LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 88TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
Revision 1
 
April 21, 2023

TO:
Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on Youth Health & Safety, Select
 
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB213 by Moody (Relating to jury instructions regarding parole eligibility and the release on parole of certain inmates convicted of an offense committed when younger than 18 years of age; changing parole eligibility.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

Allowing for earlier consideration for release onto parole may result in reduced demands upon state correctional resources due to a possible decrease in the length of stay for individuals sentenced to a term of confinement. The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined due to a lack of data to estimate the rate of approval for release onto parole for individuals who would be eligible under the bill's provisions, the subsequent number of individuals released, and the timing of such release. 

The bill would make changes relating to the eligibility for release on parole for individuals convicted of certain offenses committed when younger than 18 years of age. The bill would require the Board of Pardons and Paroles to adopt a policy establishing factors for a parole panel to consider when reviewing for release on parole an inmate who was younger than 18 years of age at the time the offense for which the inmate is eligible for release on parole was committed. The bill would apply to individuals confined in a state correctional institution on or after the bill's effective date, regardless of whether the offense for which they are confined occurred before, on, or after the effective date.

The impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources cannot be determined due to a lack of data to estimate the rate of approval for release onto parole for individuals who would be eligible under the bill's provisions, the subsequent number of individuals released, and the timing of such release. Based on the February 2023 Criminal and Juvenile Justice Uniform Cost Report, the fiscal year 2022 uniform cost per day was $77.49 for an adult in a systemwide facility and $4.69 for an adult on active parole supervision. 

The Office of Court Administration anticipates no significant fiscal impact to the state court system.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 644 Juvenile Justice Department, 696 Department of Criminal Justice, 697 Board of Pardons and Paroles
LBB Staff:
JMc, NPe, LBO, DGI, CMA