House passes parole-board overhaul to stagger terms and change review rules

Lawmakers approved House Bill 529, which amends statutes governing the Kentucky Parole Board to stagger member terms, permit panels for hearings, and alter eligibility timelines for parole review.

Representative Boyle explained the package, including a floor amendment to ensure no more than three parole-board terms expire in a single year and to allow the governor to extend a term by up to one year if expirations would otherwise create instability. The measure also permits panels of two or more members for parole and revocation hearings; a two-member panel must be unanimous for a decision, while a three-member panel requires two votes. If a panel cannot reach the required votes, referral to the full board would require a two-thirds vote of the nine-member board.

The bill also changes parole-review eligibility from 90 days to 180 days remaining on a sentence. "The volume of cases and board vacancies threatened the ability of the parole board to function as intended," Boyle said, arguing the changes will improve board functionality.

Representatives moved adoption of the committee substitute and floor amendment and then passed the bill. The transcript records the vote as unanimous on the floor with a roll-call indicating 99 members voting in the affirmative.