SECTION 1. Section 130 of chapter 127 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 official edition, is hereby amended by:

Striking the first 6 lines prior to the words “In making this determination” and inserting in place thereof the following: There shall be a rebuttable presumption that a parole permit will be granted at a prisoner’s first date of parole eligibility and all subsequent eligibility dates. To rebut the presumption of parole release, the board must make a determination, after consideration of a risk and needs assessment, that there is a reasonable expectation that the prisoner will violate the law if he or she is released on parole and that release is incompatible with the welfare of society.

Inserting in line 23 after the words “but no longer” and prior to the words “A prisoner to whom” the following:  In the event that the board has not granted a parole permit to a prisoner serving a sentence of two or more years, said prisoner shall be released on parole upon a date six months prior to the expiration of the prisoners’ sentence unless the prisoner on that date remains subject to an unexpired minimum term during which the prisoner is not eligible for parole or the prisoner declines parole release.

SECTION 2. Section 133 of chapter 127 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting in line 6 after the words “and twenty-nine D” and before the words “Where an inmate is serving” the following: and that prisoners serving a sentence of two years or more shall be released on parole upon a date six months prior to the expiration of the prisoners sentence unless the prisoner on that date remains subject to an unexpired minimum term or the prisoner declines parole release.