85R9396 JRR-F
	By: Thompson of Harris	H.B. No. 2120

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to good conduct time earned by certain inmates and the
	consideration of release on parole for those inmates.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 498.003, Government Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
	(f)  Notwithstanding any other law, an inmate described by
	Section 508.145(b), (d)(1)(A), or (d)(1)(B) who otherwise meets the
	requirements of this section may accrue good conduct time under
	Subsection (d) for purposes of parole panel consideration under
	Section 508.141(h).
	SECTION 2.  Section 508.141, Government Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (h) to read as follows:
	(h)  During the consideration for release on parole of an
	inmate described by Section 508.145(b), (d)(1)(A), or (d)(1)(B),
	the parole panel shall give special consideration to the amount of
	good conduct time accrued by the inmate when determining whether
	the inmate's release would increase the likelihood of harm to the
	public.
	SECTION 3.  (a) Section 498.003(f), Government Code, as
	added by this Act, applies to an inmate 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 inmate is serving a sentence was
	committed before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.
	(b)  Section 508.141(h), Government Code, as added by this
	Act, applies to a parole decision made on or after the effective
	date of this Act, regardless of whether the offense for which the
	inmate is serving a sentence was committed before, on, or after the
	effective date of this Act. A parole decision made before the
	effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the
	date the decision was made, and the former law is continued in
	effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.