Board of Parole Hearings: commissioners.

Existing law establishes the Board of Parole Hearings, which is composed of 17 commissioners appointed by the Governor, and subject to Senate confirmation, for staggered 3-year terms. Existing law requires the commissioners to reflect as nearly as possible a cross-section of the racial, sexual, economic, and geographic features of the population of the state. This bill would require the commissioners to reflect as nearly as possible a cross-section of the racial, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic, and geographic features of the population of the state. The bill, commencing July 1, 2022, would require that at least 4 of the 17 commissioners meet at least one of specified criteria, including being a medical doctor with experience working with geriatric patients or a drug treatment counselor, among others, and would require, commencing July 1, 2024, that at least 60% of the commissioners meet at least one of those criteria.