Bill Text: TX HB788 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to a study on the assessments used by the Board of Pardons and Paroles to make parole decisions.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-05-02 - Received from the House [HB788 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB788-Engrossed.html
86R14496 JRR-D | ||
By: Davis of Harris, White | H.B. No. 788 |
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relating to a study on the assessments used by the Board of Pardons | ||
and Paroles to make parole decisions. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 508, Government Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 508.1446 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 508.1446. STUDY ON ASSESSMENTS USED DURING PAROLE | ||
DECISIONS. (a) The board shall conduct a study on the | ||
effectiveness of the assessment components of the parole guidelines | ||
adopted under Section 508.144 and used by the board and parole | ||
panels in determining which inmates should be released on parole. | ||
(b) In conducting the study, the board: | ||
(1) shall obtain information on inmates considered and | ||
released on parole during the period beginning September 1, 2013, | ||
and ending August 31, 2016, from the Texas Board of Criminal | ||
Justice, the department, and any other criminal justice agency with | ||
relevant information on the recidivism of those inmates; and | ||
(2) may use information for a select group of inmates | ||
based on an acceptable research methodology. | ||
(c) In evaluating the effectiveness of the assessments, the | ||
board shall compare and analyze the recidivism rates and parole | ||
guideline score of the inmates used in the study. The board shall | ||
determine for each category or score within the parole guidelines: | ||
(1) the number of inmates released on parole who are | ||
convicted of a misdemeanor offense following release on parole; | ||
(2) the number of inmates released on parole who are | ||
convicted of a felony offense following release on parole; and | ||
(3) the number of inmates released on parole who have | ||
had parole revoked for a reason other than a new conviction. | ||
(d) Not later than January 1, 2021, the board shall submit a | ||
report on the results of the study to the governor, the lieutenant | ||
governor, and each member of the legislature. The report must | ||
include any recommendations the board considers necessary to | ||
improve the parole decision-making process, including any updates | ||
to the parole guidelines or modifications to the range of | ||
recommended parole approval rates as described by Section | ||
508.144(c). | ||
(e) This section expires August 31, 2021. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |