HB 24-1461

House Bill 24-1461, which has been approved by the governor and will take effect on August 7, 2024, allows inmates who complete college programs while in prison or on parole for nonviolent crimes to earn additional time off their sentences beyond what was previously allowed. This means that inmates can now receive more sentence reductions for earning degrees or credentials from accredited colleges. The bill impacts inmates serving time for nonviolent felonies and aims to encourage education and rehabilitation within the correctional system.

Official Summary

Under existing law, the department of corrections may, for an inmate who was sentenced for a nonviolent felony offense, deduct earned time from the inmate's sentence for each accredited degree or other credential awarded by an institution of higher education to the inmate while the inmate is incarcerated or on parole (degree or credential earned time). The act exempts degree or credential earned time from the statutory limit on earned time. APPROVED by Governor June 5, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Votes