Bill Text: TX SB556 | 2017-2018 | 85th 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 18 years of age; changing parole eligibility.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-08 - Referred to Criminal Justice [SB556 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-SB556-Introduced.html

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85R7623 JRR-D
By: Rodríguez S.B. No. 556

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the release on parole of certain inmates convicted of an
offense committed when younger than 18 years of age; changing
parole eligibility.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 499.053(d), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(d) A person transferred from the Texas Juvenile Justice
Department or a post-adjudication secure correctional facility for
the offense of capital murder shall become eligible for parole as
provided in Section 508.145(d-2) [508.145(d) for an offense listed
in Article 42A.054, Code of Criminal Procedure, or an offense for
which a deadly weapon finding has been made].
SECTION 2. 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 3. Subchapter E, Chapter 508, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 508.1415 to read as follows:
Sec. 508.1415. ADDITIONAL PAROLE CONSIDERATIONS FOR
YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS. (a) This section applies only to the
consideration for release on parole of an inmate who:
(1) is eligible for release on parole; and
(2) was younger than 18 years of age at the time the
offense for which the inmate is eligible for release on parole was
committed.
(b) In determining whether to release an inmate described by
Subsection (a) on parole, a parole panel shall assess the growth and
maturity of the inmate, taking into consideration:
(1) the diminished culpability of juveniles as
compared to that of adults; and
(2) the hallmark features of youth.
(c) In assessing an inmate's growth and maturity, a parole
panel shall consider the following information about the inmate:
(1) age at the time of the offense;
(2) developmental stage at the time of the offense;
(3) family and community environment;
(4) ability to appreciate the risks and consequences
of the conduct;
(5) intellectual capacity;
(6) if presented to the panel, the outcome of a
comprehensive mental health evaluation that is conducted by a
disinterested expert unaffiliated with the board, such as a
psychiatrist or psychologist, who is qualified by education and
clinical training in adolescent mental health issues and that
includes:
(A) family interviews;
(B) family history;
(C) prenatal history;
(D) developmental history;
(E) medical history;
(F) history of treatment for substance use;
(G) social history; and
(H) a psychological evaluation;
(7) peer or familial pressure;
(8) level of participation in the offense;
(9) inability to effectively communicate with defense
counsel or to participate meaningfully in the defense of the case;
(10) capacity for rehabilitation;
(11) school records and special education
evaluations;
(12) trauma history;
(13) faith and community involvement;
(14) involvement in the child welfare system; and
(15) any other mitigating factor or circumstance.
(d) The board may employ a psychiatrist or psychologist who
is qualified by education and clinical training to:
(1) conduct an evaluation described by Subsection
(c)(6), regardless of whether the evaluation is also conducted by a
disinterested expert under that subdivision; or
(2) assist a parole panel in performing its other
duties under this section.
(e) The board shall adopt a policy to ensure that an inmate
to whom this section applies is provided a meaningful opportunity
to obtain release on parole. The policy must allow the following
persons having knowledge of the inmate before the inmate committed
the offense for which the inmate is eligible for parole or having
knowledge of the inmate's growth and maturity after the offense was
committed to submit statements regarding the inmate to the parole
panel:
(1) family members and friends of the inmate;
(2) school personnel;
(3) faith leaders; and
(4) representatives of community-based organizations.
SECTION 4. Section 508.145, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (d-2) to read as follows:
(d-2)(1) This subsection applies only to an inmate who:
(A) is serving a sentence for:
(i) an offense described by Article
42A.054(a), Code of Criminal Procedure;
(ii) an offense for which the judgment
contains an affirmative finding under Article 42A.054(c) or (d),
Code of Criminal Procedure;
(iii) an offense for which the punishment
is increased under Section 481.134, Health and Safety Code; or
(iv) an offense under Section 20A.03,
21.02, 71.02, or 71.023, Penal Code; and
(B) was younger than 18 years of age at the time
the offense was committed.
(2) Notwithstanding any other subsection of this
section, an inmate described by Subdivision (1) is not eligible for
release on parole until the inmate's actual calendar time served,
without consideration of good conduct time, equals one-half of the
sentence or 20 calendar years, whichever is less, but in no event is
the inmate eligible for release on parole in less than two calendar
years.
SECTION 5. Section 508.145(b), Government Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 6. 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 7. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2017.