85R7623 JRR-D
 
  By: Moody H.B. No. 1274
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to 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.  Section 499.053(d), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (d)  A person transferred from the Texas Juvenile Justice
  Department or a post-adjudication secure correctional facility for
  the offense of capital murder shall become eligible for parole as
  provided in Section 508.145(d-2) [508.145(d) for an offense listed
  in Article 42A.054, Code of Criminal Procedure, or an offense for
  which a deadly weapon finding has been made].
         SECTION 2.  Section 508.046, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 508.046.  EXTRAORDINARY VOTE REQUIRED.  To release on
  parole an inmate who was convicted of an offense under Section
  20A.03, 21.02, 21.11(a)(1), or 22.021, Penal Code, or who is
  serving a sentence under Section 12.42(c)(2), Penal Code [required
  under Section 508.145(c) to serve 35 calendar years before becoming
  eligible for release on parole], all members of the board must vote
  on the release on parole of the inmate, and at least two-thirds of
  the members must vote in favor of the release on parole. A member of
  the board may not vote on the release unless the member first
  receives a copy of a written report from the department on the
  probability that the inmate would commit an offense after being
  released on parole.
         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:
               (1)  is eligible for release on parole; and
               (2)  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; and
               (2)  the hallmark features of youth.
         (c)  In assessing an inmate's growth and maturity, a parole
  panel shall consider the following information about the inmate:
               (1)  age at the time of the offense;
               (2)  developmental stage at the time of the offense;
               (3)  family and community environment;
               (4)  ability to appreciate the risks and consequences
  of the conduct;
               (5)  intellectual capacity;
               (6)  if presented to the panel, the outcome of a
  comprehensive mental health evaluation that is conducted by a
  disinterested expert unaffiliated with the board, such as a
  psychiatrist or psychologist, who is qualified by education and
  clinical training in adolescent mental health issues and that
  includes:
                     (A)  family interviews;
                     (B)  family history;
                     (C)  prenatal history;
                     (D)  developmental history;
                     (E)  medical history;
                     (F)  history of treatment for substance use;
                     (G)  social history; and
                     (H)  a psychological evaluation;
               (7)  peer or familial pressure;
               (8)  level of participation in the offense;
               (9)  inability to effectively communicate with defense
  counsel or to participate meaningfully in the defense of the case;
               (10)  capacity for rehabilitation;
               (11)  school records and special education
  evaluations;
               (12)  trauma history;
               (13)  faith and community involvement;
               (14)  involvement in the child welfare system; and
               (15)  any other mitigating factor or circumstance.
         (d)  The board may employ a psychiatrist or psychologist who
  is qualified by education and clinical training to:
               (1)  conduct an evaluation described by Subsection
  (c)(6), regardless of whether the evaluation is also conducted by a
  disinterested expert under that subdivision; or
               (2)  assist a parole panel in performing its other
  duties under this section.
         (e)  The board shall adopt a policy to ensure that an inmate
  to whom this section applies is provided a meaningful opportunity
  to obtain release on parole. The policy must allow the following
  persons having knowledge of the inmate before the inmate committed
  the offense for which the inmate is eligible for parole or having
  knowledge of the inmate's growth and maturity after the offense was
  committed to submit statements regarding the inmate to the parole
  panel:
               (1)  family members and friends of the inmate;
               (2)  school personnel;
               (3)  faith leaders; and
               (4)  representatives of community-based organizations.
         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)  an offense described by Article
  42A.054(a), Code of Criminal Procedure;
                           (ii)  an offense for which the judgment
  contains an affirmative finding under Article 42A.054(c) or (d),
  Code of Criminal Procedure;
                           (iii)  an offense for which the punishment
  is increased under Section 481.134, Health and Safety Code; or
                           (iv)  an offense under Section 20A.03,
  21.02, 71.02, or 71.023, Penal Code; and
                     (B)  was younger than 18 years of age at the time
  the offense was committed.
               (2)  Notwithstanding any other subsection of this
  section, an inmate described by Subdivision (1) is not eligible for
  release on parole until the inmate's actual calendar time served,
  without consideration of good conduct time, equals one-half of the
  sentence or 20 calendar years, whichever is less, but in no event is
  the inmate eligible for release on parole in less than two calendar
  years.
         SECTION 5.  Section 508.145(b), Government Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 6.  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 7.  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.