Senate BillPassed first housePenal
SB 356: Elderly Parole Program.
What SB 356 does, verified August 15, 2026
This bill proposes an amendment to the existing elderly parole program. The program reviews the parole suitability of inmates aged 50 or older who have served a minimum of 20 years of continuous incarceration. The bill would increase the minimum age to 60 years old and the minimum service requirement to 25 years of continuous incarceration to be eligible for the program.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
✓In CommitteeComplete
✓First Chamber FloorComplete
4Second ChamberCurrent
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: August 13 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. (2026-08-13)Alert me
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| Aug. 13, 2026 | August 13 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. |
| Aug. 05, 2026 | August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file. |
| Jul. 02, 2026 | Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jul. 01, 2026 | From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 30). |
| Jun. 03, 2026 | June 9 hearing postponed by committee. |
Latest bill textAmended version, July 2, 2026 · 823 words
| Amended IN Assembly July 02, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly March 05, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate April 09, 2025 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 356
| Introduced by Senator Jones |
February 12, 2025 |
An act to amend Section 3055 of the Penal Code, relating to parole.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 356, as amended, Jones. Elderly parole program. Parole Program.
Existing law establishes the Elderly Parole Program for the purpose of reviewing the parole suitability of inmates who are 50 years of age or older and who have served a minimum of 20 years of continuous incarceration on their sentence. If an inmate is found suitable for parole under this program, existing law requires the Board of Parole Hearings to release the individual on parole, as specified.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 3055 of the Penal Code is amended to read:3055.
(a) The Elderly Parole Program is hereby established, to be administered by the Board of Parole Hearings, for purposes of reviewing the parole suitability of any inmate who is(b) (1) For purposes of this code, the term “elderly parole eligible date” means the date on which an inmate who qualifies as an elderly offender is eligible for release from prison.
(2) For purposes of this section, “incarceration” means detention in a city or county jail, local juvenile facility, a mental health facility, a Division of Juvenile Justice facility, or a Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facility.
(c) When considering the release of an inmate specified by subdivision (a) pursuant to Section 3041, the board shall give special consideration to whether age, time served, and diminished physical condition, if any, have reduced the elderly inmate’s risk for future violence.
(d) When scheduling a parole consideration hearing date pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 3041.5 or when considering a request for an advance hearing pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 3041.5, the board shall consider whether the inmate meets or will meet the criteria specified in subdivision (a).
(e) An individual who is subject to this section shall meet with the board pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 3041. If an inmate is found suitable for parole under the Elderly Parole Program, the board shall release the individual on parole as provided in Section 3041.
(f) If parole is not granted, the board shall set the time for a subsequent elderly parole hearing in accordance with paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 3041.5. No subsequent elderly parole hearing shall be necessary if the offender is released pursuant to other statutory provisions prior to the date of the subsequent hearing.
(g) This section does not apply to cases in which sentencing occurs pursuant to Section 1170.12, subdivisions (b) to (i), inclusive, of Section 667, or in cases which an individual was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole or death.
(h) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a person sentenced pursuant to Sections 269, 288.7, 667.61, and 667.71 shall not be suitable for parole pursuant to this section unless the person is 65 years of age or older and has served a minimum of 25 years of continuous incarceration on their current sentence.
(h)
(i)
This section does not apply if the person was convicted of first-degree murder if the victim was a peace officer, as defined in Section 830.1, 830.2, 830.3, 830.31, 830.32, 830.33, 830.34, 830.35, 830.36, 830.37, 830.4, 830.5, 830.6, 830.10, 830.11, or 830.12, who was killed while engaged in the performance of their duties, and the individual knew, or reasonably should have known, that the victim was a peace officer engaged in the performance of their duties, or the victim was a peace officer or a former peace officer under any of the above-enumerated sections, and was intentionally killed in retaliation for the performance of their official duties.(i)
(j)
This section does not alter the rights of victims at parole hearings.(j)
(k)
By December 31, 2022, the board shall complete all elderly parole hearings for individuals who were sentenced to determinate or indeterminate terms and who, on the effective date of the bill that added this subdivision, are or will be entitled to have their parole suitability considered at an elderly parole hearing before January 1, 2023.Text of SB 356 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions