bill adds religious services to good conduct time eligibility

The text as introduced · 237 words

89R2842 BCH-D

By: Hughes
S.B. No. 676

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the award of good conduct time to inmates.

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

SECTION 1. Section 498.003(a), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) Good conduct time applies only to eligibility for parole

or mandatory supervision as provided by Section 508.145 or 508.147

and does not otherwise affect an inmate's term. Good conduct time

is a privilege and not a right. Regardless of the classification of

an inmate, the department may grant good conduct time to the inmate

only if the department finds that the inmate :

(1) is actively engaged in an agricultural,

vocational, or educational endeavor, in an industrial program or

other work program, or in a treatment program, unless the

department finds that the inmate is not capable of participating in

such a program or endeavor ; or

(2) regularly attends religious services or studies

religious texts .

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a

person who is confined in a facility operated by or under contract

with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on or after the

effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the offense for

which the person is confined occurred before, on, or after the

effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.