Texas HB 2940: Relating to the award of good conduct time to certain inmates; changing parole eligibility.

Bill Text

By:AAJonesof DallasH.B.ANo.A2940
A BILLTO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relatingto theawardof goodconducttimeto certaininmates;
changingparoleeligibility.
BE IT ENACTEDBY THE LEGISLATUREOF THE STATEOF TEXAS:
SECTION
A1.AASection498.003,GovernmentCode,is amendedby
amendingSubsections(a),(b),(d),and (e) and addingSubsection
(f) to readas follows:
(a)
AAGoodconducttimeappliesonlyto eligibilityfor parole
or mandatorysupervisionas providedby Section508.145or 508.147
and doesnot otherwiseaffectan inmate
’s term.Goodconducttime
is  a  privilegeandnota  right.The[Regardlessof  the
classificationof an inmate,the]departmentmay grantgoodconduct
timeto an [the]inmateonlyfor:
(1)
AAdemonstratinggoodbehaviorby complyingwithall
applicabledepartmentrules;or
(2)
AAdiligentlyparticipatingin a programdescribedby
Subsection(d) or (f) [if the departmentfindsthatthe inmateis
activelyengagedin an agricultural,vocational,or educational
endeavor,in an industrialprogramor otherworkprogram,or in a
treatmentprogram,unlessthe departmentfindsthatthe inmateis
not capableof participatingin sucha programor endeavor].
(b)
AAAn  inmateaccruesgoodconducttimedescribedby
Subsection(a)(1)accordingto  theinmate
’s  classificationin
amountsas follows:
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(1)AA20 daysfor each30 daysactuallyservedwhilethe
inmateis classifiedas a trusty,exceptthatthedepartmentmay
awardtheinmatenotmorethan10 extradaysforeach30 days
actuallyserved;
(2)
AA20 daysfor each30 daysactuallyservedwhilethe
inmateis classifiedas a ClassI inmate;and
(3)
AA10 daysfor each30 daysactuallyservedwhilethe
inmateis classifiedas a ClassII inmate.
(d)
AAAn inmatemayaccruegoodconducttime,in an amount
determinedby the departmentthatdoesnot exceed15 daysfor each
30  daysactuallyserved,fordiligentparticipationin  an
industrialprogramor otherworkprogramor for participationin an
agricultural,educational,[or]vocational,or treatmentprogram
providedto inmatesby thedepartment.Forthepurposesof this
subsection,theterm"participationin an educationalprogram"
includesthe participationof the inmateas a tutoror a pupilin a
literacyprogramauthorizedby Section501.005.The departmentmay
not awardgoodconducttimeunderthissubsectionfor participation
in a literacyprogramunlessthedepartmentdeterminesthatthe
inmateparticipatedin goodfaithand withdiligenceas a tutoror
pupil.
(e)
AAIf an inmatewas [a personis] confinedin a countyjail,
the departmentshallawardgoodconducttimeto the inmate[person]
up to an amountequalto the amountearnedby an inmatein the entry
leveltimeearningclass.
(f)
AAThedepartmentshallawardgoodconducttimeto an
inmate[a defendant]for diligentlyparticipating,whileconfined
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H.B.
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in a countyjail,[diligentparticipation]in a voluntarywork
programoperatedby  a  sheriffunderArticle43.101,Codeof
CriminalProcedure,in  thesamemanneras  if  theinmatehad
diligentlyparticipatedin an industrialprogramor otherwork
programprovidedto inmatesby the department.The sheriffof each
countyshallhaveattacheda certificationof thenumberof days
eachinmatediligentlyparticipatedin the volunteerworkprogram
operatedby thesheriffunderArticle43.101,Codeof Criminal
Procedure.
SECTION
A2.AASection508.046,GovernmentCode,is amendedto
readas follows:
Sec.
A508.046.AAEXTRAORDINARYVOTEREQUIRED.AATo releaseon
parolean inmatewhowasconvictedof an offenseunderSection
20A.03,21.02,21.11(a)(1),or 22.021,PenalCode,or whois
servinga sentenceunderSection12.42(c)(2),PenalCode[required
underSection508.145(c)to serve35 calendaryearsbeforebecoming
eligiblefor releaseon parole],all membersof the boardmustvote
on the releaseon paroleof the inmate,and at leasttwo-thirdsof
the membersmustvotein favorof the releaseon parole.A memberof
theboardmaynotvoteon thereleaseunlessthememberfirst
receivesa copyof a writtenreportfromthedepartmenton the
probabilitythattheinmatewouldcommitan offenseafterbeing
releasedon parole.
SECTION
A3.AASections508.145(b)and(c),GovernmentCode,
are amendedto readas follows:
(b)
AAAn  inmateservinga  lifesentenceunderSection
12.31(a)(1),PenalCode,for a capitalfelonyis not eligiblefor
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releaseon paroleuntiltheactualcalendartimetheinmatehas
servedplusgoodconducttimedescribedby Section498.003(a)(2),
withoutconsiderationof anyothergoodconducttime,equals40
calendaryears.
(c)
AAAn inmateservinga sentenceunderSection12.42(c)(2),
PenalCode,is not eligiblefor releaseon paroleuntilthe actual
calendartimetheinmatehasservedplusgoodconducttime
describedby Section498.003(a)(2),withoutconsiderationof any
othergoodconducttime,equals35 calendaryears.
SECTION
A4.AASection508.145(d)(2),GovernmentCode,is
amendedto readas follows:
(2)
AAAn inmatedescribedby Subdivision(1)is not
eligiblefor releaseon paroleuntilthe inmate
’s actualcalendar
timeservedplusgoodconducttimedescribedbySection
498.003(a)(2),withoutconsiderationof