SB 19-143 Summary

• Raises prison bed vacancy rate threshold from 2% to 3% before triggering mandatory parole review procedures and notification to state officials.

• Changes parole board authority from discretionary ("may") to mandatory ("shall") to review eligible inmates when vacancy rate falls below 3% for 30 consecutive days.

• Adds new parole eligibility category for medium or lower-risk inmates with favorable parole plans; parole board must conduct file review and set release date within 30 days (or schedule hearing if victim notification required).

• Expands intermediate sanction for parolee technical violations from 5 days to 14 days of county jail confinement; allows bypass of sanctions for certain parolees on level 3-4 drug felonies or class 3-6 nonviolent felonies.

• Establishes parolee intensive treatment program in Level I security facilities and provides reentry support services for up to one year after discharge; appropriates $25,200 for information technology implementation.