81R3794 PEP-D
By: Edwards H.B. No. 1958
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the release from the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice of certain inmates who complete a rehabilitation program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 508.141, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (b-1), (d-1), and (d-2) and amending Subsection
(d) to read as follows:
(b-1) If a parole panel requires, as a condition of release,
that an inmate complete a specific department rehabilitation
program before release, the department shall place the inmate in
the program specified by the parole panel, except that the
department may place the inmate in a different program with the
approval of the parole panel.
(d) A parole panel may release an inmate on parole during
the parole month established for the inmate, or during any
applicable range of dates established under Subsection (d-1), if
the panel determines that the inmate's release will not increase
the likelihood of harm to the public.
(d-1) A parole panel that, as a condition of release,
requires an inmate to complete a specific department rehabilitation
program shall specify a range of dates, based on the date the inmate
is likely to have completed the specified program, during which the
department may release the inmate, if the inmate has:
(1) successfully completed the program specified by
the parole panel; and
(2) satisfied all other conditions of release
specified by the parole panel.
(d-2) The range of dates specified by the parole panel under
Subsection (d-1) may not begin earlier than the 45th day before any
applicable release date established for the inmate and must be a
range of at least 30 days.
SECTION 2. 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 when the inmate's period
of confinement began.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.