The bill amends Sections 15-22-20 and 15-22-37 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to expand the Board of Pardons and Paroles from three to five members, ensuring that the board's composition reflects the state's diversity in terms of race, gender, geography, and economic status. It mandates that at least two members have a background in law enforcement with a minimum of ten years of experience. The process for filling board vacancies is revised to require the Governor to appoint members from a list of five nominees provided by a newly formed nominating committee, which includes key legislative leaders. Additionally, the board will elect its chair from among its members every even-numbered year. The bill also introduces new terms such as "nominating committee," "individuals," and "limited supervision," while deleting outdated references and clarifying the appointment process.

Furthermore, the bill establishes new guidelines for the parole consideration process, focusing on an inmate's criminal history and program completion to assess the likelihood of reoffending. It sets specific timelines for parole reconsideration based on the nature of the offense and sentence length, allowing for reviews of nonviolent offenders every two years and violent Class A felons every ten years. The bill also mandates the implementation of existing provisions for the supervision and treatment of parolees, outlines criteria for discharging parolees early, and ensures that the board's guidelines are publicly accessible. It removes certain provisions from the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act related to the board's rules and policies and requires the Governor to appoint the additional board members by January 1, 2026, with the bill taking effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 15-22-20, 15-22-37
Engrossed: 15-22-20, 15-22-37