Elderly Parole Program.
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Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Appropriations
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
Senate Bill 286, known as Mary Bella’s Law, establishes an Elderly Parole Program to review the parole eligibility of inmates aged 50 or older who have served at least 20 years in prison. This bill expands the list of offenses that would exclude individuals from this program, specifically adding first-degree murder, certain sexual offenses (rape, sodomy, lewd acts), and habitual sex offenders. The exclusions apply to inmates incarcerated as of January 1, 2026, regardless of prior parole attempts. The bill also clarifies the program’s administration and hearing procedures.
Key provisions
- Establishes the Elderly Parole Program for inmates 50 or older with 20+ years of incarceration.
- Expands exclusions from the Elderly Parole Program to include first-degree murder convictions.
- Adds exclusions for convictions involving rape, sodomy, and lewd acts.
- Includes habitual sex offenders as ineligible for the program.
- Applies exclusions to inmates incarcerated as of January 1, 2026.
- Specifies that the program does not apply to individuals sentenced to life without parole or death.
- Clarifies the definition of ‘incarceration’ for the purposes of the program.
- Requires the Board of Parole Hearings to consider age, time served, and diminished physical condition when evaluating parole suitability.
Who is affected
- Inmates aged 50 or older
- The Board of Parole Hearings
- Individuals convicted of specific violent crimes
Bill text
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