BILL ANALYSIS
Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
------------------------------------------------------------
| |SB 128 (Polanco) |
|-------------------------------+----------------------------|
| | |
|-------------------------------+----------------------------|
|Hearing Date: 5/27/99 |Amended: 5/19/99 |
|-------------------------------+----------------------------|
|Consultant: Lisa Matocq |Policy Vote: Pub Saf 4-2 |
| | |
------------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________________
BILL SUMMARY:
SB 128 requires the Board of Prison Terms (BPT) to prepare
an inmate performance plan for specified inmates, and makes
related changes.
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02
Fund
Performance plans $ 115 $ 230 $
230 General
STAFF COMMENTS: SUSPENSE FILE. Under current law, the BPT
has the power to parole certain inmates from state prison.
Existing law establishes the process by which BPT reviews
an inmate's suitability for parole. One requirement is that
BPT meet with the inmate during the 3rd year of
incarceration to review the inmate's file, and make
recommendations. This bill requires BPT to, at that
hearing or the next regularly scheduled parole hearing,
prepare an inmate performance plan. The plan must include
specific requirements that must be met in order for the
inmate to be eligible for parole. Such requirements may
include, but are not limited to, participation in
educational classes, substance abuse classes, or victim
offender awareness programs.
Existing law also requires that one year prior to the
inmate's minimum eligible parole release date a panel of at
least 2 commissioners meet with the inmate and normally set
a release date, as specified. This bill recasts this
section to require BPT to review the inmate's suitability
for parole based upon the inmate's performance plan and
requires BPT to state in writing, if the inmate's parole is
denied, the reasons why and what he or she must do to
become suitable for parole, consistent with the performance
plan. Additionally, the bill contains legislative findings
and makes related changes.
BPT reports that they conduct about 2200 parole hearings
annually. They estimate increased costs of $230,000
annually to comply with the provisions of the bill.