By: Huffman S.B. No. 1561               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to an educational and vocational training pilot program   for certain state jail felony defendants and certain inmates   released on parole; changing parole eligibility.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Articles 42A.562(a) and (f), Code of Criminal   Procedure, are amended to read as follows:          (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), a judge assessing   punishment in a state jail felony case may suspend the imposition of   the sentence and place the defendant on community supervision with   the condition [conditions] that the defendant[:                [(1)  submit at the beginning of the term of community   supervision to confinement in a state jail felony facility for a   term not to exceed 90 days; and                [(2)]  participate in a program operated under Section   493.034 [507.007], Government Code.          (f)  A defendant placed on community supervision under this   article must participate fully in the program described by   Subsection (a) [(a)(2)]. The provisions of Subchapter P   authorizing the judge to revoke a defendant's community supervision   or otherwise sanction the defendant apply with respect to a   defendant who violates the requirement of this subsection.          SECTION 2.  Section 507.007, Government Code, is transferred   to Chapter 493, Government Code, redesignated as Section 493.034,   Government Code, and amended to read as follows:          Sec. 493.034  [507.007].  EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL   TRAINING PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The department shall establish a pilot   program to provide educational and vocational training,   employment, and reentry services to:                (1)  defendants placed on community supervision [and   required to serve a term of confinement in a state jail felony   facility] under Article 42A.562, Code of Criminal Procedure; and                (2)  inmates released on parole who are required to   participate in the program as a condition of parole imposed under   Section 508.1455.          (b)  The department, in consultation with interested   parties, shall determine the eligibility criteria for a defendant   or inmate to participate in the pilot program, including requiring   the defendant or inmate to arrange for suitable housing while   participating in the program.          (c)  The department, in consultation with interested   parties, shall identify at least two and [determine] not more than   four locations in this state in which the pilot program will   operate. In identifying [determining] the locations, the   department shall consider locating the program in various regions   throughout the state, including locations having a variety of   population sizes. The department shall also give consideration to   whether a risk and needs assessment is generally conducted before   sentencing defendants in a particular location and to the degree to   which local judges show support for the establishment of the   program in a particular location.          (d)  The department shall issue a request for proposals from   public or private entities to provide services through the pilot   program.  The department shall select one or more qualified   applicants to provide services through the program to eligible   defendants and inmates.          (e)  The pilot program consists of approximately 180 days of   employment-related services and support and must include:                (1)  an initial period during which the defendant or   inmate will:                      (A)  receive training and education related to the   defendant's or inmate's vocational goals; and                      (B)  be employed by the provider;                (2)  job placement services designed to provide   employment for the defendant or inmate after the period described   by Subdivision (1);                (3)  assistance in obtaining a high school diploma or   industry certification for applicable defendants and inmates;                (4)  life-skills training, including information about   budgeting and money management; and                (5)  counseling and mental health services.          (f)  The department shall limit the number of defendants and   inmates who may participate in the pilot program to not more than 45   individuals [defendants] per quarter per program location.          (g)  The department shall pay providers not less than $40 per   day for each participant.          SECTION 3.  Subchapter E, Chapter 508, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 508.1455 to read as follows:          Sec. 508.1455.  EARLY RELEASE ON PAROLE FOR CERTAIN INMATES   REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING   PILOT PROGRAM. (a) This section applies only to an inmate:                (1)  who is serving a sentence for a drug related felony   of the third degree, other than an offense under Title 5, Penal   Code, or under Chapter 43 or 71 of that code;                (2)  who has not previously been convicted of a felony   under Title 5, Penal Code, or under Chapter 43 or 71 of that code;   and                (3)  whose eligibility for parole is computed under   Section 508.145(f).          (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, a parole panel may   release on parole an inmate described by Subsection (a)   approximately 180 days before the date the inmate would be eligible   for release on parole under Section 508.145(f).          (c)  A parole panel releasing an inmate on parole under this   section shall require as a condition of release on parole that the   inmate participate in a program operated under Section 493.034, to   begin immediately following the inmate's release on parole.          (d)  For purpose of consideration by a parole panel for early   release on parole under Subsection (b), the department shall   annually identify not fewer than 100 inmates described by   Subsection (a) who are suitable candidates for participation in a   program operated under Section 493.034. The board and the   department shall jointly adopt rules for identifying inmates under   this subsection.          (e)  The board shall adopt rules governing the release of an   inmate on parole under this section.          SECTION 4.  Article 42A.562(d), Code of Criminal Procedure,   is repealed.          SECTION 5.  The change in law made by this Act applies to any   inmate who is 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 confined occurred before, on, or after the   effective date of this Act.          SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.