By: Moody, Leach, Thompson of Harris, H.B. No. 213
      Buckley, Cook, et al.
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to jury instructions regarding parole eligibility and the
  release on parole of certain inmates convicted of an offense
  committed when younger than 18 years of age; changing parole
  eligibility.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  This Act may be cited as the Senator Eddie Lucio
  Jr. Act.
         SECTION 2.  Section 4, Article 37.07, Code of Criminal
  Procedure, is amended by adding Subsections (c-1) and (c-2) to read
  as follows:
         (c-1)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section
  and except as provided by Subsection (c-2), in the penalty phase of
  the trial of an offense described by Section 508.145(d-2)(1)(A),
  Government Code, in which the punishment is to be assessed by the
  jury rather than the court for a defendant who was younger than 18
  years of age at the time the offense was committed, the court shall
  charge the jury in writing as follows:
         "The length of time for which a defendant is imprisoned may be
  reduced by the award of parole.
         "Under the law applicable in this case, the defendant, if
  sentenced to a term of imprisonment, may earn early parole
  eligibility through the award of good conduct time.  Prison
  authorities may award good conduct time to a prisoner who exhibits
  good behavior and diligence in carrying out prison work assignments
  and attempting rehabilitation.  If a prisoner engages in
  misconduct, prison authorities may also take away all or part of any
  good conduct time earned by the prisoner.
         "Under the law applicable in this case, if the defendant is
  sentenced to a term of imprisonment, the defendant will not become
  eligible for parole until the earlier of (1) the date the
  defendant's actual time served plus any good conduct time earned
  equals one-fourth of the sentence imposed or 15 years, whichever is
  less, or (2) the date the defendant would otherwise be eligible for
  release on parole under another provision of Section 508.145,
  Government Code. Eligibility for parole does not guarantee that
  parole will be granted.
         "It cannot accurately be predicted how the parole law and
  good conduct time might be applied to this defendant if sentenced to
  a term of imprisonment, because the application of that law will
  depend on decisions made by parole authorities.
         "You may consider the existence of the parole law and good
  conduct time. However, you are not to consider the extent to which
  good conduct time may be awarded to or forfeited by this particular
  defendant.  You are not to consider the manner in which the parole
  law may be applied to this particular defendant."
         (c-2)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section,
  in the penalty phase of the trial of a capital felony case in which
  the punishment is to be assessed by the jury rather than the court
  for a defendant who was younger than 18 years of age at the time the
  offense was committed, the court shall charge the jury in writing as
  follows:
         "The length of time for which a defendant is imprisoned may be
  reduced by the award of parole.
         "Under the law applicable in this case, if the defendant is
  sentenced to a term of imprisonment, the defendant will not become
  eligible for parole until the actual time served equals 20 years.
  Eligibility for parole does not guarantee that parole will be
  granted.
         "It cannot accurately be predicted how the parole law might
  be applied to this defendant if sentenced to a term of imprisonment,
  because the application of that law will depend on decisions made by
  parole authorities.
         "You may consider the existence of the parole law. You are
  not to consider the manner in which the parole law may be applied to
  this particular defendant."
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter E, Chapter 508, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 508.1415 to read as follows:
         Sec. 508.1415.  ADDITIONAL PAROLE CONSIDERATIONS FOR
  YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS. (a) This section applies only to the
  consideration for release on parole of an inmate who was younger
  than 18 years of age at the time the offense for which the inmate is
  eligible for release on parole was committed.
         (b)  In determining whether to release an inmate described by
  Subsection (a) on parole, a parole panel shall assess the growth and
  maturity of the inmate, taking into consideration:
               (1)  the diminished culpability of juveniles, as
  compared to that of adults;
               (2)  the hallmark features of youth; and
               (3)  the greater capacity of juveniles for change, as
  compared to that of adults.
         (c)  The board shall adopt a policy establishing factors for
  a parole panel to consider when reviewing for release on parole an
  inmate to whom this section applies to ensure that the inmate is
  provided a meaningful opportunity to obtain release. The policy
  must:
               (1)  consider the age of the inmate at the time of the
  commission of the offense as a mitigating factor in favor of
  granting release on parole; and
               (2)  permit persons having knowledge of the inmate
  before the inmate committed the offense or having knowledge of the
  inmate's growth and maturity after the offense was committed to
  submit statements regarding the inmate for consideration by the
  parole panel.
         (d)  This section does not:
               (1)  affect the rights granted under this chapter or
  Article 56A.051, Code of Criminal Procedure, to a victim, guardian
  of a victim, or close relative of a deceased victim; or
               (2)  create a legal cause of action.
         SECTION 4.  Section 508.145, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (d-2) to read as follows:
         (d-2)(1)  This subsection applies only to an inmate who:
                     (A)  is serving a sentence for:
                           (i)  a capital or first degree felony
  described by Article 42A.054(a), Code of Criminal Procedure;
                           (ii)  a first degree felony under Section
  71.02, Penal Code; or
                           (iii)  an offense under Section 71.023,
  Penal Code; and
                     (B)  was younger than 18 years of age at the time
  the offense was committed.
               (2)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this
  section and except as provided by Subdivision (3), an inmate
  described by Subdivision (1) is not eligible for release on parole
  until the earlier of:
                     (A)  the date the inmate's actual calendar time
  served plus good conduct time equals one-fourth of the sentence or
  15 years, whichever is less; or
                     (B)  the date the inmate would otherwise be
  eligible for release on parole under another provision of this
  section.
               (3)  An inmate described by Subdivision (1) who is
  serving a life sentence under Section 12.31(a)(1), Penal Code, for
  a capital felony is not eligible for release on parole until the
  inmate's actual calendar time served, without consideration of good
  conduct time, equals 20 years.
         SECTION 5.  Section 508.145(b), Government Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 6.  (a) Sections 4(c-1) and (c-2), Article 37.07,
  Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this Act, apply to a
  defendant sentenced for an offense on or after the effective date of
  this Act, regardless of when the offense was committed.
         (b)  Section 508.1415, Government Code, as added by this Act,
  and Section 508.145, Government Code, as amended by this Act, apply 
  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 whether the offense
  for which the inmate is confined occurred before, on, or after the
  effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.