relating to parole determinations and individual treatment plans
for inmates.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 508.1411(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) For each decision of a parole panel granting or denying
the release of an inmate on parole, or denying the release of an
inmate on mandatory supervision, the parole panel shall:
(1) produce a written statement, in clear and
understandable language, that explains:
(A) the decision; [and]
(B) the reasons for the decision only to the
extent those reasons relate specifically to the inmate; and
(C)if the decision is denying the release of an
inmate on parole, the specific actions the inmate must take to
address factors that contributed to the denial of parole;
(2) provide a copy of the statement to the inmate and
the rehabilitation programs division of the department; and
(3) place a copy of the statement in the inmate's file.
SECTION 2. Section 508.144(c), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(c) Based on the board's review under Subsection (b), the
board may:
(1) update the guidelines by:
(A) including new risk factors; [or]
(B) changing the values of offense severity or
risk factor scores; [or]
(C)adjusting the way that the guidelines account
for an inmate's progress on the inmate's individual treatment plan;
or
(D)adjusting the risk level of an inmate based
on the inmate's progress on the inmate's individual treatment plan;
or
(2) modify the range of recommended parole approval
rates under the guidelines, if parole approval rates differ
significantly from the range of recommended parole approval rates.
SECTION 3. Section 508.1445(b), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) The report must include:
(1) a brief explanation of the parole guidelines,
including how the board:
(A) defines the risk factors and offense severity
levels; [and]
(B) determines the range of recommended parole
approval rates for each guideline score;
(C)accounts for an inmate's progress on the
inmate's individual treatment plan; and
(D)uses the guidelines to make an individualized
determination to approve or deny release on parole;
(2) a comparison of the range of recommended parole
approval rates under the parole guidelines to the actual approval
rates for individual parole panel members, regional offices, and
the state as a whole; [and]
(3) a description of instances in which the actual
parole approval rates do not meet the range of recommended parole
approval rates under the parole guidelines, an explanation of the
variations, and a list of actions that the board has taken or will
take to meet the guidelines; and
(4)an analysis of parole denials, including the
reasons for parole denial and information regarding additional
rehabilitative programming recommended for inmates denied release
on parole.
SECTION 4. Section 508.152, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a), (b), (b-2), (c), and (e) and adding
Subsections (b-3), (b-4), and (g) to read as follows:
(a) Not later than the 45th [120th] day after the date an
inmate is admitted to the institutional division, the department
shall obtain all pertinent information relating to the inmate,
including:
(1) the court judgment;
Statutes affected: Introduced: Government Code 508.1411, Government Code 508.144, Government Code 508.1445, Government Code 508.152 (Government Code 508) House Committee Report: Government Code 508.1411, Government Code 508.144, Government Code 508.1445, Government Code 508.152 (Government Code 508)