An act relating to the Parole Board

The enacted version adds 'Notwithstanding 2026 Acts and Resolves No. 74, Sec. 89 or any other provision of law to the contrary' to the Section 5 carryforward provision, ensuring the $25,000 carryforward for external legal counsel cannot be overridden by conflicting statutory language.

The enacted version adds a restriction that the carried-forward funds 'shall not be subject to the approval of the Secretary of Administration or designated for any other purpose,' locking the money specifically for hiring external legal counsel under the pilot project.

The 'As Passed' version includes a statement of purpose summarizing the bill's goals (training requirements, board size change from 5 to 7 members, amended member qualifications, and Director responsibilities) that is not present in the enacted version.

Formatting differences between versions include: the passed version uses line numbers and 'Page X of 17' pagination while the enacted version uses 'Page X of 8'; the enacted version includes a legislative tracking number (VT LEG #390153 v.1) and the governor's signature date (May 26, 2026) that are absent from the passed version.

Added a Parole Board Legal Counsel Pilot Project (Sec. 4) providing external legal support for annual training on due process and parole violations, plus legal advice for Board hearings. A written report on the pilot is due to legislative committees by November 15, 2026.

Added a $25,000 carryforward from fiscal year 2026 (Sec. 5) and a new $50,000 appropriation for fiscal year 2027 (Sec. 6), both specifically for hiring external legal counsel under the pilot project.

Added Sec. 7 requiring the Parole Board Director to submit a proposed budget to the Commissioner of Corrections and Secretary of Human Services during fiscal year 2028 and 2029 budget development, with a written report due December 1, 2027 (the House version had this date as December 15).

Added Sec. 8 amending 13 V.S.A. section 5305 to require the Department of Corrections to notify victims of listed crimes at least 30 days before a parole hearing (including the right to testify or submit a written statement) and to promptly inform them of the Board's decision including any conditions of release.

Added Sec. 9 amending 28 V.S.A. section 502a to establish a detailed presumptive parole administrative review process: the Department must identify eligible inmates, screen for risk criteria using clear and convincing evidence, refer non-risk inmates to the Board for administrative review at least 60 days before eligibility, and the Board must conduct reviews within 30 days of the eligibility date with provisions for victim participation.

Added Sec. 10 amending 28 V.S.A. section 507 to require the Department of Corrections to notify victims at least 30 days before a parole eligibility hearing and to promptly inform them of the decision including conditions, with written waiver available.

In the training provision (section 403(6)), added the Chair of the Parole Board as a collaborator alongside the Parole Board Director, and removed 'making determinations of parole' from the list of required training topics.

In the legal counsel pilot (Sec. 4(b)), shifted leadership from the Office of the Attorney General coordinating the process to the Board and Agency of Human Services identifying and contracting with external legal support, with the OAG in a coordination role.

In section 451(d), added 'in collaboration with the Chair of the Parole Board' to the annual training requirement for Board members.

In section 455(e), changed the Director's role from 'developing and providing training' to 'ensuring training is developed and provided,' and added the Chair of the Parole Board as a collaborator alongside the Commissioner.

In section 451(a)(2), added a requirement that upon notification of a vacancy, the Governor shall consult with the Parole Board Director and the Chair of the Parole Board before making an appointment.

In section 451(a)(2), added 'and a balance of different knowledge and experience' to the factors the Governor should consider when appointing members, alongside geographic representation.

Header changed from 'AS PASSED BY HOUSE' to 'BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE' and page count updated from 6 to 9 pages to reflect official formatting.

The statement of purpose section, including the sponsor name (Rep. Emmons), committee referral line, and subject line, was removed as it only appears in unofficial bill versions.

Section 2 subsection structure changed from (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3) to a single (a) paragraph with the text flowing together, followed by (b), (c), and (d). This is a formatting change with no effect on the legal content.

New Section 4 creates a Parole Board Legal Counsel Pilot Project providing external legal support for annual training (due process, parole violations) and legal advice during Board hearings. The Office of the Attorney General coordinates contracting with external legal support.

Section 5 carries forward $25,000 from FY2026 appropriations into FY2027 for hiring external legal counsel under the pilot project.

Section 6 appropriates $50,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Corrections in FY2027 for external legal counsel under the pilot project.

Section 7 requires the Parole Board Director to submit a proposed budget during FY2028 and FY2029 budget development processes, and to file a written report with the House Committee on Corrections and Institutions by December 15, 2027, including a recommendation on whether the Board should submit an annual budget.

Board member qualification criteria now require the Governor to give consideration to both geographic representation AND a balance of different knowledge and experience, broadening the appointment standard beyond geography alone.

Training collaboration now includes the Chair of the Parole Board in addition to the Parole Board Director. The training topic list was narrowed by removing 'making determinations of parole' as a specific topic.

The Parole Board Director must submit a written report to the House Committee on Corrections and Institutions by November 15, 2026, detailing the operation of the legal counsel pilot project and recommending resources needed going forward.

The two-consecutive-term limit on Parole Board members (present in the introduced version) was removed in the passed version.

The Director's responsibilities were expanded to include developing and providing training to the Board in collaboration with both the Commissioner and the Chair of the Parole Board (previously only the Commissioner).