H5154

	2017 -- H 5154
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	LC000207
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	STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017
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	A N A C T
	RELATING TO CRIMINALS - CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS

	Introduced By: Representatives Vella-Wilkinson, Casey, Johnston, Lima, and Cunha
	Date Introduced: January 19, 2017
	Referred To: House Judiciary
	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1	SECTION 1. Section 13-8-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 13-8 entitled "Parole" is
2	hereby amended to read as follows:
3	13-8-9. Issuance of parole.
4	(a) The parole board, in the case of any prisoner whose sentence is subject to its control,
5	unless that prisoner is sentenced to imprisonment for life, and unless that prisoner is confined as a
6	habitual criminal under the provisions of § 12-19-21, may, by an affirmative vote of a majority of
7	the members of the board, issue to that prisoner a permit to be at liberty upon parole, whenever
8	that prisoner has served not less than one-third (1/3) of the term for which he or she was
9	sentenced. The permit shall entitle the prisoner to whom it is issued to be at liberty during the
10	remainder of his or her term of sentence upon any terms and conditions that the board may
11	prescribe.
12	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, in the case of a
13	conviction for a first- or second-degree murder committed after July 1, 2015, when the prisoner
14	has not been sentenced to life, the prisoner shall not be eligible for a parole permit until he or she
15	has served at least fifty-percent (50%) of his or her sentence.
16	(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, no person
17	convicted of a crime in which a firearm was used to commit the underlying offense shall be
18	eligible for parole.

1	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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	EXPLANATION
	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
	OF
	A N A C T
	RELATING TO CRIMINALS - CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS
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1	This act would provide that no person convicted of a crime in which a firearm was used
2	to commit the offense shall be eligible for parole.
3	This act would take effect upon passage.
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