HB391 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim HillRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to pardons and paroles; to add Article 1A, commencing with Section 15-22-10.01 to Chapter 22 of Title 15, Code of Alabama 1975, to reconstitute the Board of Pardons and Paroles as the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles; to reorganize the functions and duties of the bureau and to provide for the duties of the Board of Pardons and Paroles within the bureau; to transfer certain language relating to pardons and paroles to a new article within the Code of Alabama 1975; to specify the duties and responsibilities of the Director of the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles and to provide for the personnel of the bureau; to amend 15-18-71, 15-18-72, 15-18-74, 15-18-76, 15-18-77, 15-22-42, 15-22-43, 15-22-51, 15-22-53, and Section 15-22-54, as corrected by Act 2022-371, the Codification Act, 2022 Regular Session, and Sections 15-22-56 and 15-22-57, Code of Alabama 1975, to delete duplicative language; to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style; to amend Sections 12-17-184, 14-1-22, 14-1-23, 14-14-5, 15-18-176, 15-20A-48, 15-22-111, 15-22-112, Section 15-22-113, as last amended by Act 2022-382, 2022 Regular Session, Sections 15-22-115, 15-23-79, and 17-3-31, Code of Alabama 1975, to update relevant cross-references in existing law; and to repeal Sections 15-22-20, 15-22-21, 15-22-21.1, 15-22-22, 15-22-23, 15-22-24, 15-22-25, 15-22-26, 15-22-26.1, 15-22-26.2, 15-22-27, 15-22-27.1, 15-22-27.2, 15-22-27.3, 15-22-27.4, 15-22-28, 15-22-29, 15-22-29.1, 15-22-30, 15-22-30.1, 15-22-30.2, 15-22-31, 15-22-32, 15-22-33, 15-22-34, 15-22-35, 15-22-36, 15-22-36.1, 15-22-36.2, 15-22-36.3, 15-22-37, 15-22-38, 15-22-39, and 15-22-40, Code of Alabama 1975.

Summary

HB391 would convert the Board of Pardons and Paroles into the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, reorganize its duties, expand parole and supervision programs, add medical parole and victim-notification provisions, and update cross-references and procedures.

What This Bill Does

It reconstitutes the Board as the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles with the Director as its chief and the Board’s duties carried out within the bureau. It creates a risk- and evidence-based approach to supervising parolees and probationers, including required staff training, initial investigations for parole, and actuarial parole release guidelines. It adds a medical parole framework for geriatric, permanently incapacitated, and terminally ill inmates, with a special docket and oversight. It strengthens statewide victim notification, establishes a PREP pilot program to help ex-offenders start small businesses, and expands restitution, transition centers, and county jail participation in supervision and housing.

Who It Affects

• Incarcerated individuals (inmates, parolees, and probationers) whose parole decisions, supervision, medical furlough, and restitution requirements would be governed by the new Bureau and risk-based guidelines.
• Crime victims and their families who would receive enhanced automated notifications, have opportunities to participate in parole decisions, and be informed of paroled or pardoned individuals.

Key Provisions

• Article 1A adds the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, reorganizing powers previously held by the Board and reallocating funds to the Bureau.
• The Director leads the Bureau as chief executive, with personnel under merit-based rules and annual reporting obligations; the Board acts within the Bureau and its duties are updated in cross-references.
• A Deputy Director for Parolee Rehabilitation is created; probation and parole officers must complete mandatory training on risk assessment, case planning, and evidence-based practices.
• The Bureau conducts initial inmate investigations using validated risk and needs assessments to support parole decisions; creates parole release guidelines that are actuarial, risk-based, and posted on the Bureau website.
• Medical parole is expanded to geriatric, permanently incapacitated, and terminally ill inmates via a special medical parole docket, with notification to victims and authorities, and exceptions for certain offenses (e.g., capital murder, some sex offenses).
• A strengthened victim notification system is established, including a statewide automated system, a Victim Notification Task Force and later a Victim Notification Oversight Council, with mandatory notices and opportunities for victims to testify.
• A PREP pilot program (Prison Entrepreneurship Training Program) is created to help ex-offenders start small businesses, including training, funding, mentoring, and annual evaluation reports to the Legislature.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.