bill adds parole reporting and a 30-day notice

The text as introduced · 696 words

By: Hull
H.B. No. 4332

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the procedures for and reporting regarding the

consideration of inmates for release on parole and the frequency

with which the Board of Pardons and Paroles reconsiders inmates for

release on parole.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 508.036(a), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) The presiding officer shall:

(1) develop and implement policies that clearly

separate the policy-making responsibilities of the board and the

management responsibilities of the board administrator, parole

commissioners, and the staff of the board;

(2) establish caseloads and required work hours for

members of the board and parole commissioners;

(3) update parole guidelines, assign precedential

value to previous decisions of the board relating to the granting of

parole and the revocation of parole or mandatory supervision, and

develop policies to ensure that members of the board and parole

commissioners use guidelines and previous decisions of the board

and parole commissioners in making decisions under this chapter;

(4) require members of the board and parole

commissioners to file activity reports that provide information on

release decisions made by members of the board and parole

commissioners, the workload and hours worked of the members of the

board and parole commissioners, and the use of parole guidelines by

members of the board and parole commissioners; and

(5) report at least annually to the governor and the

legislature on the activities of the board and parole

commissioners, parole release decisions, the number of inmates who

requested to be interviewed by the parole panel considering the

release of the inmate on parole and the number of interviews

granted, and the use of parole guidelines by the board and parole

commissioners.

SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 508, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 508.056 to read as follows:

Sec. 508.056. INMATE'S ACCESS TO SUMMARY PREPARED BY PAROLE

OFFICER. Not later than the 30th day before the date on which a

parole panel is allowed to consider an inmate for release on parole,

the division shall provide the inmate with a copy of the summary

regarding the inmate prepared by a parole officer for the parole

panel considering the inmate's release. An inmate may, after

receipt of a copy of the summary, provide a written statement to the

division to:

(1) correct any errors in the summary; or

(2) provide additional information for consideration

by the parole panel.

SECTION 3. Sections 508.141(g) and (g-1), Government Code,

are amended to read as follows:

(g) The board shall adopt a policy establishing the date on

which the board may reconsider for release an inmate who has

previously been denied release. The policy must require the board

to reconsider the inmate for release[ :

[ (1) an inmate serving a sentence for an offense

listed in Section 508.149(a) or for an offense punishable as a

felony of the second or third degree under Section 22.04, Penal

Code, ] during a month designated under Subsection (g-1) by the

parole panel that denied release[ ; and

[ (2) an inmate other than an inmate described by

Subdivision (1) as soon as practicable after the first anniversary

of the date of the denial ].

(g-1) The month designated for reconsideration [ under

Subsection (g)(1) by the parole panel that denied release ] must :

(1) except as provided by Subdivision (2), begin after

the first anniversary of the date of the denial and end before the

fifth anniversary of the date of the denial ; or

(2) if [ , unless ] the inmate is serving a sentence for

an offense under Section 22.021, Penal Code, or a life sentence for

a capital felony, [ in which event the designated month must ] begin

after the first anniversary of the date of the denial and end before

the 10th anniversary of the date of the denial.

SECTION 4. The Board of Pardons and Paroles shall adopt a

policy consistent with Section 508.141, Government Code, as amended

by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this

Act.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.