HB4332 - 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.

      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.