H.B. No. 721
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the release to mandatory supervision of certain inmates
  confined in a county jail.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 508, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 508.1471 to read as follows:
         Sec. 508.1471.  RELEASE TO MANDATORY SUPERVISION OF CERTAIN
  INMATES CONFINED IN COUNTY JAIL. (a) This section applies only to
  an inmate who, at the time the inmate is sentenced to a term of
  imprisonment in the department, is:
               (1)  confined in a county jail; and
               (2)  eligible for immediate release to mandatory
  supervision.
         (b)  Before an inmate is released from a county jail to
  mandatory supervision, the department shall provide notice to a
  victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a deceased victim
  that the inmate is eligible for release to mandatory supervision.
  The notice must be sent to the address provided in the victim impact
  statement or submitted under Section 508.117(b) and must state that
  the victim, guardian, or close relative may submit, not later than
  the 14th day after the date of the notice, a written statement to
  the parole panel considering the inmate's release regarding:
               (1)  the offense;
               (2)  the inmate; and
               (3)  the effect of the offense on the victim, guardian,
  or close relative.
         (c)  Notwithstanding any other law, the parole panel may
  interview a victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a
  deceased victim regarding the release of the inmate to mandatory
  supervision.
         (d)  In this section, "victim," "guardian of a victim," and
  "close relative of a deceased victim" have the meanings assigned by
  Section 508.117.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to a
  defendant who is sentenced for an offense on or after the effective
  date of this Act, regardless of whether the offense is committed
  before, on, or after that date.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 721 was passed by the House on April
  30, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 135, Nays 6, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 721 on May 28, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, 1
  present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 721 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 25, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor