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Alabama committee amends HB 523 to guarantee equal speaking time per parole advocate
Summary
The Boards, Agencies and Commissions Committee amended and favorably reported HB 523, changing language that had allocated 50% of hearing time to proponents and 50% to opponents to require an equal amount of time for each individual advocate speaking for or against parole.
The Boards, Agencies and Commissions Committee amended and gave a favorable report to HB 523 on a voice vote after rewording how speaking time is allocated at parole hearings.
Representative Hassell presented HB 523 to the committee, saying the bill "further provide[s] the parole hearing proceedings" by ensuring both proponents and opponents receive equal allotments of time and "authorize[ing] non lawyers to speak at a hearing." Hassell said the bill's intent is fairness: "It's fair to both sides."
The bill originally directed that the board allocate 50% of the available time to advocates for parole and 50% to advocates against parole. Committee discussion raised concerns that the 50/50 phrasing could unintentionally expand hearings when one side had many more…
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