HB 724 seeks to amend Chapter 17 of Title 17 of the O.C.G.A. relating to the “Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights” and Article 2 of Chapter 9 of Title 42 relating to grants, pardons, paroles, and other relief. 

            Code Section 17-17-13 is revised by requiring 30 days advance notification, instead of 20, by The State Board of Pardons and Paroles to the victim whenever it considers making a final decision to grant parole, release a defendant for a period exceeding 60 days, or grant a pardon. The board shall also provide the victim with an opportunity to file a written objection to such action. Within 72 hours of receiving a request to commute a death sentence, the board shall provide notification to a victim of the date set for hearing such request and provide such victim an opportunity to file a written response to such request. The notification is only required if the victim has expressed a desire for such notification and has provided the board with a current mailing or e-mail address and telephone number. 

            Code Section 42-9-47 is revised to change the window of notification to 30 days advance rather than 72 days after to the district attorney, the presiding judge, the sheriff of each county in which an inmate was tried, convicted, and sentenced, the local law enforcement authorities of the county of the last resident of an inmate prior to incarceration, and the victim whenever it considers making a final decision to grant parole to an inmate or place an inmate into transitional housing. Further, 30 days before the parole date or date of the inmate’s entry into transitional housing, the board shall publish in the legal organ of each county in which the inmate was tried, convicted, and sentenced a notice of date of release.