The bill amends the Corrections Code of 1953 to enhance the structure and criteria of the parole system in Michigan. Key changes include increasing the parole board's membership from 10 to 13, with a requirement that at least four members have no prior ties to the Department of Corrections. The director of the department is tasked with appointing these additional members by June 1, 2025. The bill also modifies the conditions for granting parole, mandating that prisoners with minimum terms of two years or more must have earned a high school diploma or equivalency certificate, with certain exceptions. Additionally, it introduces specific eligibility criteria for parole based on the nature of the crime, including a list of offenses that disqualify prisoners from parole until they have served their minimum sentence.

Further provisions include establishing that parole granted under certain conditions must last a minimum of four years and that the parole board's decisions depend on the filing of a transcript with the attorney general. It requires written notice for prisoners before parole interviews and allows them to be represented by a chosen individual, excluding other prisoners. The bill also outlines criteria for assessing parole eligibility for serious drug offenses and allows prisoners convicted of first-degree murder under a felony-murder theory before November 4, 1980, to be eligible for parole after serving 40 years. Additionally, it mandates the provision of reentry housing for parolees lacking housing options. The enactment of this bill is contingent upon the passage of Senate Bill No. 89 of the 103rd Legislature.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 791.231