Bill Text: TX HB721 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to the release to mandatory supervision of certain inmates confined in a county jail.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)

Status: (Passed) 2021-06-15 - Effective on 9/1/21 [HB721 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB721-Introduced.html

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87R2957 JRR-D
By: Wilson H.B. No. 721

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the release to mandatory supervision of certain inmates
confined in a county jail.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 508, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 508.1471 to read as follows:
Sec. 508.1471. RELEASE TO MANDATORY SUPERVISION OF CERTAIN
INMATES CONFINED IN COUNTY JAIL. (a) This section applies only to
an inmate who, at the time the inmate is sentenced to a term of
imprisonment in the department, is:
(1) confined in a county jail; and
(2) eligible for immediate release to mandatory
supervision.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the department must take
custody of an inmate to whom this section applies before the inmate
may be released to mandatory supervision.
(c) As soon as practicable after taking an inmate into
custody under Subsection (b), the department shall provide notice
to a victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a deceased
victim that the inmate is eligible for release to mandatory
supervision. The notice must be sent to the address provided in the
victim impact statement or submitted under Section 508.117(b) and
must state that the victim, guardian, or close relative may submit,
not later than the 14th day after the date of the notice, a written
statement to the parole panel considering the inmate's release
regarding:
(1) the offense;
(2) the inmate; and
(3) the effect of the offense on the victim, guardian,
or close relative.
(d) Notwithstanding any other law, the parole panel may
interview a victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a
deceased victim regarding the release of the inmate to mandatory
supervision.
(e) In this section, "victim," "guardian of a victim," and
"close relative of a deceased victim" have the meanings assigned by
Section 508.117.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a
defendant who is sentenced for an offense on or after the effective
date of this Act, regardless of whether the offense is committed
before, on, or after that date.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.