85R9396 JRR-F
By Thompson of Harris H.B. No. 2120
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT
relating to good conduct time earned by certain inmates and the consideration of release on parole for those inmates.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 498.003, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection(f) to read as follows:
(f) Notwithstanding any other law, an inmate described by Section 508.145(b),(d)(1)(A), or (d)(1)(B) who otherwise meets the requirements of this section may accrue good conduct time under Subsection(d) for purposes of parole panel consideration under Subsection 508.141(h).
SECTION 2. 508.141, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection(h) to read as follows:
(h) During the consideration for release on parole panel shall grant special consideration to the amount of good conduct time accrued by the inmate when determining whether the inmate's release would increase the likelihood of harm to the public.
SECTION 3. (a)Section 498.003(f), Government Code, as added by this Act, applies to an inmate 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 serving a sentence was committed before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.
(b) Section 508.141(h), Government Code, as added by this Act, applies to a parole decision made on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the offense for which the inmate is serving a sentence was committed before, on, or after the effective date of this Act. A parole decision made before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the decision was made, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.