Bill Text: TX HB3595 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the release on parole of certain inmates convicted of an offense committed when younger than 25 years of age; changing parole eligibility.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-16 - Referred to Corrections [HB3595 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB3595-Introduced.html

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88R10787 MZM-D
By: Jones of Harris H.B. No. 3595

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the release on parole of certain inmates convicted of an
offense committed when younger than 25 years of age; changing
parole eligibility.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 508.046, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 508.046. EXTRAORDINARY VOTE REQUIRED. To release on
parole an inmate who was convicted of an offense under Section
20A.03, 21.02, 21.11(a)(1), or 22.021, Penal Code, or who is
serving a sentence under Section 12.42(c)(2), Penal Code [required
under Section 508.145(c) to serve 35 calendar years before becoming
eligible for release on parole], all members of the board must vote
on the release on parole of the inmate, and at least two-thirds of
the members must vote in favor of the release on parole. A member of
the board may not vote on the release unless the member first
receives a copy of a written report from the department on the
probability that the inmate would commit an offense after being
released on parole.
SECTION 2. Section 508.145, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (b-1) and (g) to
read as follows:
(b) An inmate serving a life sentence under Section
12.31(a)(1), Penal Code, for a capital felony is not eligible for
release on parole until the actual calendar time the inmate has
served, without consideration of good conduct time, equals 20 [40]
calendar years.
(b-1) An inmate who was transferred from the Texas Juvenile
Justice Department or a post-adjudication secure correctional
facility, as defined by Section 152.00011, Human Resources Code,
for an offense under Section 19.03, Penal Code, is not eligible for
release on parole until the inmate's actual calendar time served,
without consideration of good conduct time, equals one-fourth of
the sentence or 15 calendar years, whichever is less.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section and
except as otherwise provided by this subsection, an inmate who is
serving a sentence for an offense that was committed when the inmate
was younger than 25 years of age is eligible for release on parole
in one-half the time that the inmate would otherwise be eligible for
release on parole under another provision of this section. This
subsection does not apply to an inmate described by:
(1) Subsection (a), (b), or (b-1); or
(2) Subsection (c-1)(1) who is not eligible for
release on parole.
SECTION 3. Section 499.053(d), Government Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies to any
inmate 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 inmate is confined occurred before, on, or after the
effective date of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.