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.