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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the procedures for and reporting regarding the |
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consideration of inmates for release on parole and the frequency |
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with which the Board of Pardons and Paroles reconsiders inmates for |
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release on parole. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 508.036(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) The presiding officer shall: |
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(1) develop and implement policies that clearly |
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separate the policy-making responsibilities of the board and the |
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management responsibilities of the board administrator, parole |
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commissioners, and the staff of the board; |
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(2) establish caseloads and required work hours for |
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members of the board and parole commissioners; |
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(3) update parole guidelines, assign precedential |
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value to previous decisions of the board relating to the granting of |
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parole and the revocation of parole or mandatory supervision, and |
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develop policies to ensure that members of the board and parole |
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commissioners use guidelines and previous decisions of the board |
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and parole commissioners in making decisions under this chapter; |
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(4) require members of the board and parole |
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commissioners to file activity reports that provide information on |
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release decisions made by members of the board and parole |
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commissioners, the workload and hours worked of the members of the |
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board and parole commissioners, and the use of parole guidelines by |
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members of the board and parole commissioners; and |
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(5) report at least annually to the governor and the |
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legislature on the activities of the board and parole |
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commissioners, parole release decisions, the number of inmates who |
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requested to be interviewed by the parole panel considering the |
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release of the inmate on parole and the number of interviews |
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granted, and the use of parole guidelines by the board and parole |
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commissioners. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 508, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 508.056 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 508.056. INMATE'S ACCESS TO SUMMARY PREPARED BY PAROLE |
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OFFICER. Not later than the 30th day before the date on which a |
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parole panel is allowed to consider an inmate for release on parole, |
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the division shall provide the inmate with a copy of the summary |
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regarding the inmate prepared by a parole officer for the parole |
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panel considering the inmate's release. An inmate may, after |
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receipt of a copy of the summary, provide a written statement to the |
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division to: |
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(1) correct any errors in the summary; or |
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(2) provide additional information for consideration |
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by the parole panel. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 508.141(g) and (g-1), Government Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(g) The board shall adopt a policy establishing the date on |
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which the board may reconsider for release an inmate who has |
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previously been denied release. The policy must require the board |
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to reconsider the inmate for release[: |
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[(1) an inmate serving a sentence for an offense |
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listed in Section 508.149(a) or for an offense punishable as a |
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felony of the second or third degree under Section 22.04, Penal |
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Code,] during a month designated under Subsection (g-1) by the |
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parole panel that denied release[; and |
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[(2) an inmate other than an inmate described by |
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Subdivision (1) as soon as practicable after the first anniversary |
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of the date of the denial]. |
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(g-1) The month designated for reconsideration [under |
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Subsection (g)(1) by the parole panel that denied release] must: |
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(1) except as provided by Subdivision (2), begin after |
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the first anniversary of the date of the denial and end before the |
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fifth anniversary of the date of the denial; or |
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(2) if [, unless] the inmate is serving a sentence for |
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an offense under Section 22.021, Penal Code, or a life sentence for |
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a capital felony, [in which event the designated month must] begin |
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after the first anniversary of the date of the denial and end before |
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the 10th anniversary of the date of the denial. |
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SECTION 4. The Board of Pardons and Paroles shall adopt a |
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policy consistent with Section 508.141, Government Code, as amended |
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by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |