HB2515 Summary

• Increases Prisoner Review Board juvenile matters expertise requirement from 6 to 9 members, with 5 years (instead of 3) experience including post-graduate degree and adolescent development competency.

• Allows persons under 21 at offense commission to petition for parole review: 10+ years served for non-homicide offenses, or 20+ years for homicide offenses, with petition filing allowed 3 years before eligibility.

• Grants parole hearing rights including physical presence, counsel representation, written/oral testimony presentation, and cross-examination of opposing witnesses, with hearings conducted by 3 juvenile-qualified board members.

• Creates presumption of parole release unless 3-member panel unanimously finds by clear and convincing evidence that continued incarceration protects public from significant danger, considering diminished culpability and growth of youthful offenders.

• Establishes resentencing procedures for persons serving natural life sentences for offenses committed before age 18, with court considering youth factors, institutional record, and victim impact statements.