88R10787 MZM-D     By: Jones of Harris H.B. No. 3595       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the release on parole of certain inmates convicted of an   offense committed when younger than 25 years of age; changing   parole eligibility.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 508.046, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 508.046.  EXTRAORDINARY VOTE REQUIRED.  To release on   parole an inmate who was convicted of an offense under Section   20A.03, 21.02, 21.11(a)(1), or 22.021, Penal Code, or who is   serving a sentence under Section 12.42(c)(2), Penal Code [required   under Section 508.145(c) to serve 35 calendar years before becoming   eligible for release on parole], all members of the board must vote   on the release on parole of the inmate, and at least two-thirds of   the members must vote in favor of the release on parole. A member of   the board may not vote on the release unless the member first   receives a copy of a written report from the department on the   probability that the inmate would commit an offense after being   released on parole.          SECTION 2.  Section 508.145, Government Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (b-1) and (g) to   read as follows:          (b)  An inmate serving a life sentence under Section   12.31(a)(1), Penal Code, for a capital felony is not eligible for   release on parole until the actual calendar time the inmate has   served, without consideration of good conduct time, equals 20 [40]   calendar years.          (b-1)  An inmate who was transferred from the Texas Juvenile   Justice Department or a post-adjudication secure correctional   facility, as defined by Section 152.00011, Human Resources Code,   for an offense under Section 19.03, Penal Code, is not eligible for   release on parole until the inmate's actual calendar time served,   without consideration of good conduct time, equals one-fourth of   the sentence or 15 calendar years, whichever is less.          (g)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section and   except as otherwise provided by this subsection, an inmate who is   serving a sentence for an offense that was committed when the inmate   was younger than 25 years of age is eligible for release on parole   in one-half the time that the inmate would otherwise be eligible for   release on parole under another provision of this section. This   subsection does not apply to an inmate described by:                (1)  Subsection (a), (b), or (b-1); or                (2)  Subsection (c-1)(1) who is not eligible for   release on parole.          SECTION 3.  Section 499.053(d), Government Code, is   repealed.          SECTION 4.  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 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.