Texas 2023 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1067 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/21/2023

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                    88R7401 MZM-D
 By: Middleton S.B. No. 1067


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the consideration of certain information by a parole
 panel in determining whether to release an inmate on parole.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 508, Government Code, is
 amended by adding Section 508.1415 to read as follows:
 Sec. 508.1415.  ADDITIONAL PAROLE CONSIDERATIONS.  (a)  The
 board shall adopt rules requiring a parole panel considering an
 inmate for release on parole to issue a subpoena under Section
 508.048 for the production of disciplinary records relating to the
 inmate that are maintained by the Texas Education Agency. The rules
 must provide that the existence or contents of the subpoena and
 information obtained in response to the subpoena are not to be
 disclosed to any person other than the board and the parole panel.
 The consideration of disciplinary records by a parole panel as
 required by Subsection (b) is a law enforcement purpose.
 (b)  In determining whether to release an inmate on parole, a
 parole panel shall consider:
 (1)  disciplinary records obtained under Subsection
 (a);
 (2)  relevant information available on the inmate's
 social media accounts; and
 (3)  statements submitted under Subsection (c).
 (c)  Not later than the 21st day before the date a parole
 panel considers an inmate for release on parole, the department
 shall publish a notice on the department's Internet website and in a
 newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the inmate
 was convicted.  The notice must state:
 (1)  the inmate's name;
 (2)  the county in which the inmate was convicted;
 (3)  the offense for which the inmate was convicted;
 (4)  that persons residing in the county in which the
 inmate was convicted may submit a written statement to the parole
 panel; and
 (5)  the manner and period in which a person described
 by Subdivision (4) may submit a written statement to the parole
 panel.
 (d)  The period provided for the submission of written
 statements under Subsection (c) may not be less than 10 days.
 SECTION 2.  Not later than December 1, 2023, the Board of
 Pardons and Paroles shall adopt the rules required by Section
 508.1415, Government Code, as added by this Act.
 SECTION 3.  Section 508.1415, Government Code, as added by
 this Act, applies only to the consideration by a parole panel of the
 release of an inmate on parole that occurs on or after December 1,
 2023. The consideration by a parole panel of the release of an
 inmate that occurs before December 1, 2023, is governed by the law
 in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the
 former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
 SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.