H.B. No. 721
AN ACT
relating to the release to mandatory supervision of certain inmates
confined in a county jail.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 508, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 508.1471 to read as follows:
Sec. 508.1471. RELEASE TO MANDATORY SUPERVISION OF CERTAIN
INMATES CONFINED IN COUNTY JAIL. (a) This section applies only to
an inmate who, at the time the inmate is sentenced to a term of
imprisonment in the department, is:
(1) confined in a county jail; and
(2) eligible for immediate release to mandatory
supervision.
(b) Before an inmate is released from a county jail to
mandatory supervision, the department shall provide notice to a
victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a deceased victim
that the inmate is eligible for release to mandatory supervision.
The notice must be sent to the address provided in the victim impact
statement or submitted under Section 508.117(b) and must state that
the victim, guardian, or close relative may submit, not later than
the 14th day after the date of the notice, a written statement to
the parole panel considering the inmate's release regarding:
(1) the offense;
(2) the inmate; and
(3) the effect of the offense on the victim, guardian,
or close relative.
(c) Notwithstanding any other law, the parole panel may
interview a victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a
deceased victim regarding the release of the inmate to mandatory
supervision.
(d) In this section, "victim," "guardian of a victim," and
"close relative of a deceased victim" have the meanings assigned by
Section 508.117.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a
defendant who is sentenced for an offense on or after the effective
date of this Act, regardless of whether the offense is committed
before, on, or after that date.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 721 was passed by the House on April
30, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 135, Nays 6, 2 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 721 on May 28, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, 1
present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 721 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 25, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor