SB1676 amends the Unified Code of Corrections to clarify and expand the Prisoner Review Board’s role in setting and enforcing conditions of mandatory supervised release (MSR). The bill states that the Board is the authority for establishing MSR conditions, deciding whether violations warrant revocation or other sanctions, determining discharge from MSR, and conducting hearings through at least one member and a panel of at least three members for those decisions.
The bill also adds a specific notification and hearing process for certain individuals who were prosecuted under the Criminal Code of 1961 or 2012, sentenced under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, convicted as adults, and committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice. In those cases, the Department of Juvenile Justice must notify the Prisoner Review Board at least 120 days before the person turns 21, and the Board must hold a hearing with at least three members to decide whether the person should be placed on mandatory supervised release or transferred to the Department of Corrections before their 21st birthday.
Impact
The bill would amend Sections 3-3-1, 3-3-2, and 3-3-3 of the Unified Code of Corrections, reinforcing the Prisoner Review Board’s statutory authority over MSR conditions, sanctions, revocations, and discharge decisions. It would also create a formal pre-age-21 notification and hearing requirement for certain juvenile-justice cases involving adult convictions and Department of Juvenile Justice custody, potentially affecting transfer decisions between the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Corrections and the timing of release supervision.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of support or opposition from legislative debate. Based on the bill text, the measure appears administrative and procedural in nature, focused on clarifying decision-making authority and ensuring advance notice and hearings for a narrow category of incarcerated youth. The available record does not show any formal sentiment from lawmakers.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the shift or clarification of authority toward the Prisoner Review Board, especially the requirement that a three-member panel make MSR-related decisions and the new hearing process for juvenile offenders approaching age 21. Stakeholders concerned with corrections administration may focus on whether the bill improves consistency and oversight, while others may question the added procedural burden or the impact on how young adult offenders are transferred, supervised, or released. Because there were no transcripts or votes, no specific individuals or groups are identified as having raised these concerns.
Relating to sexually violent predators, to the Texas Civil Commitment Office, and to the prosecution of the offense of harassment by sexually violent predators and other persons confined in certain facilities; amending certain sex offender registration requirements; increasing criminal penalties.
Relating to personal bond offices, to the notification provided to a judge regarding tampering with an electronic monitoring device while released on bond or community supervision, and to the availability of certain information regarding a person required to submit to an electronic monitoring program or being supervised by a community supervision and corrections department.