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Bill

SB 1235

An Act amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for Pennsylvania Parole Board and for incompatible offices and removal.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Baker and 6 co-sponsors

SB 1235 creates an immediate vacancy when a Pennsylvania Parole Board member’s term expires and requires the Governor to nominate a successor within six months.

Re-referred to Appropriations
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 1235

Summary of bill SB 1235 (Pennsylvania, 2025-2026)

Purpose and intent

SB 1235 proposes amendments to Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, focusing on the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (the Pennsylvania Parole Board). The core change is to address how vacancies on the Parole Board are handled when a member’s term expires, and to establish timelines for filling those vacancies. The bill applies to board members who hold office on or after the act’s effective date and would take effect 60 days after enactment.

Key provisions

  • Vacancy upon term expiration (board member):
    When a Parole Board member’s term expires, the member’s position is immediately deemed a vacancy. The Governor would be required to nominate a person to fill that membership position within a specified timeframe (see timeline details below).

  • Nomination timeline:
    The bill states a nomination must be made “not later than six months after the date of expiration,” with the implication that this occurs even if the expired member continues to serve on the board during the vacancy period. The text shows a bracketed/edited timeline that reads “within 90 days of” but the operative language in the section as presented specifies up to six months; the precise drafting in the enacted version would determine the exact window. In any event, the bill sets a clear deadline for gubernatorial nominations to fill vacancies.

  • Effective date:
    The act would take effect 60 days after enactment.

Who/what is affected

  • Affected entity:
    Members of the Pennsylvania Parole Board (the board responsible for parole decisions and related matters within the Department of Corrections framework).

  • Scope of impact:
    Only applies to board members who hold office on or after the effective date of the act. It does not retroactively apply to vacancies that may have occurred prior to the act’s effective date.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status and action history:

    • Referred to the Judiciary committee (March 18, 2026)
    • Reported as committed and first consideration (April 21, 2026)

  • Effective date:
    60 days after enactment.

Potential implications and considerations

  • Continuity of leadership:
    By creating a formal vacancy process and a defined nomination timeline, the bill aims to reduce delays in filling Parole Board vacancies and promote continuity in parole decision-making.

  • Administrative impact:
    The Governor’s office would need to manage timely nominations to avoid prolonged vacancies, potentially affecting how vacancies are staffed and how quickly new board members can participate in decisions.

  • Legal and governance clarity:
    The bill clarifies that a board member’s term expiration creates an immediate vacancy, which may affect procedural operations and transition planning for the Parole Board.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to a policy brief, a constituent-facing one-pager, or a comparative note with similar vacancy procedures in other state agencies.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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