SB 124 - This act adds that among the factors the Parole Board shall consider when determining if an offender shall be placed on parole are the offender's institutional behavior and any participation in any vocational, treatment, rehabilitative, or educational programs offered by the Department of Corrections. Additionally, the offender shall appear before a public hearing panel, unless waived by the offender, and such hearing may be conducted by videoconference with consent of the offender. Finally, the parole board shall provide written notice to the offender of the board's decision within 10 days of any hearing or any deliberation of the board if the hearing was waived by the offender or the guidelines indicated a hearing was not required. A decision to deny parole shall include a description of the reasons for the denial and the steps the offender may take to be a more suitable candidate for parole. MARY GRACE PRINGLE