Bill Text: TX HB2468 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Engrossed

---

Bill Title: Relating to a study on the assessments used by the Board of Pardons and Paroles to make parole decisions.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-05-05 - Received from the House [HB2468 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB2468-Engrossed.html

---

85R22854 JRR-D
By: Davis of Harris H.B. No. 2468

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
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 for
parole during the period beginning January 1, 2015, and ending
December 31, 2017, from the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, the
department, and any other criminal justice agency with relevant
information on the recidivism of:
(A) inmates sentenced to the institutional
division; and
(B) releasees under the supervision of the
division; 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, 2019, 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 changes
to the assessments used or to the parole guidelines or recommended
parole approval rates described by Section 508.144.
(e) This section expires August 31, 2019.
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, 2017.