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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to parole guidelines and procedures for inmates convicted |
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of an offense committed when younger than 18 years of age. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Youth Parole Reform |
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Act. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 508, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 508.1441 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 508.1441. PAROLE GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES FOR INMATE |
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WHO COMMITTED OFFENSE BEFORE AGE OF 18; REPORT. (a) The board, in |
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consultation with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, shall |
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develop and implement: |
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(1) a version of the parole guidelines adopted under |
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Section 508.144 that: |
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(A) is specifically designed for an inmate who |
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was younger than 18 years of age at the time the offense for which |
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the inmate is eligible for release on parole was committed; and |
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(B) prioritizes rehabilitation, educational |
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attainment, mental health treatment, and reintegration support; |
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and |
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(2) specific procedures to be used during the |
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consideration for release on parole of an inmate described by |
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Subdivision (1)(A). |
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(b) The procedures developed under Subsection (a)(2) must: |
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(1) require a parole panel considering the release on |
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parole of an inmate described by Subsection (a)(1)(A) to use the |
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parole guidelines developed under Subsection (a)(1); |
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(2) prohibit the parole panel from applying the parole |
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guidelines adopted under Section 508.144; |
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(3) require the parole panel to consider the |
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following: |
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(A) the inmate's age at the time the offense for |
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which the inmate is eligible for release on parole was committed; |
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(B) the inmate's demonstrated rehabilitation |
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progress; |
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(C) the inmate's educational and vocational |
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achievements; |
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(D) the inmate's psychological and behavioral |
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evaluations; and |
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(E) input from relevant professionals, family |
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members, and victims, if appropriate; and |
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(4) include a comprehensive reintegration plan for the |
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inmate. |
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(c) The board shall annually submit to the governor, |
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lieutenant governor, and members of the legislature a report that |
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includes: |
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(1) the following information with respect to inmates |
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described by Subsection (a)(1)(A) who are considered for release on |
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parole under the parole guidelines and procedures developed under |
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this section: |
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(A) the number of inmates considered and the |
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number released; |
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(B) the success rate of reintegration of inmates |
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released; and |
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(C) the recidivism rate of inmates released; and |
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(2) recommendations for improving the parole |
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guidelines and procedures developed under this section. |
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(d) The board shall publish the report described by |
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Subsection (c) on the board's Internet website. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department shall develop |
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and provide training to members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles |
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and parole commissioners, as defined by Section 508.001, Government |
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Code, on best practices for parole consideration for inmates |
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described by Section 508.1441(a)(1)(A), Government Code, as added |
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by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. (a) Not later than the 180th day after the |
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effective date of this Act, the Board of Pardons and Paroles shall |
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develop and implement the parole guidelines and procedures required |
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under Section 508.1441, Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) As soon as practicable after the date the Board of |
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Pardons and Paroles implements the parole guidelines and procedures |
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under Subsection (a) of this section, the board shall reconsider |
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for release on parole any inmate described by Section |
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508.1441(a)(1)(A), Government Code, as added by this Act, who was |
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previously denied release on parole before the implementation of |
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the parole guidelines and procedures under Subsection (a) of this |
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section. |
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SECTION 5. 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, 2025. |