HOUSE FILE 2161

BY  R. OLSON

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the board of parole.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 904A.1, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   904A.1  Board of parole
 
—— divisions.
   1.  The board of parole is created to consist of five
 
six members. Each member, except the chairperson and the vice chairperson, shall be compensated on a day-to-day basis. Each member shall serve a term of four years beginning and ending as provided by section 69.19, except for members appointed to fill vacancies who shall serve for the balance of the unexpired term. The terms shall be staggered. The chairperson and vice chairperson of the board shall be full-time, salaried members of the board.
   2.  The board of parole may be divided into divisions of three, five, or six members for the purpose of considering inmates for parole and work release. The board shall prescribe rules to provide for the submission of cases to the entire board or to the separate divisions.
 
A majority of the members of the board
 
or of a division of the board constitutes a quorum to transact business.
    Sec. 2.  Section 904A.4, subsection 1, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  The board of parole shall interview and consider inmates for parole and work release and a
 
simple majority vote of the members
 
of the board or of a division of the board is required to grant a parole or work release.
EXPLANATION
   This bill increases the number of members of the board of parole from five to six and permits the board to be divided into divisions of three, five, or all six members for the purpose of considering inmates for parole and work release. The bill provides that a majority of the members of the board or of a division of the board constitutes a quorum to transact business and to grant a parole or work release. The bill specifically provides that a simple majority of the members is necessary to grant a parole or work release.