Bill Text: TX HB2565 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the release on parole of certain inmates during a public health emergency.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-17 - Referred to Corrections [HB2565 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB2565-Introduced.html
87R7827 JRR-D | ||
By: Crockett | H.B. No. 2565 |
|
||
|
||
relating to the release on parole of certain inmates during a public | ||
health emergency. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 508, Government Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 508.1455 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 508.1455. RELEASE ON PAROLE OF CERTAIN INMATES DURING | ||
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. (a) In this section, "public health | ||
emergency" means an immediate threat from a communicable disease as | ||
defined by Section 81.003, Health and Safety Code, that: | ||
(1) poses a high risk of death or serious long-term | ||
disability to a large number of people in the general population; | ||
and | ||
(2) creates a substantial risk of public exposure | ||
because of the disease's high level of contagion or the method by | ||
which the disease is transmitted. | ||
(b) Notwithstanding any other law and regardless of whether | ||
an inmate has completed any classes or programs that the board has | ||
previously ordered the inmate to complete before being released on | ||
parole, a parole panel shall consider for release and release on | ||
parole an inmate who is eligible for release on parole if the inmate | ||
is confined in a facility that is directly affected by a public | ||
health emergency and: | ||
(1) at least 25 percent of the inmates confined in the | ||
facility are infected or suspected of being infected with the | ||
communicable disease related to the public health emergency; or | ||
(2) the inmate has a high risk of developing serious | ||
symptoms or complications from the disease as determined by | ||
guidelines established by the federal Centers for Disease Control | ||
and Prevention. | ||
(c) This section expires September 1, 2024. | ||
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies 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 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |