27BConsideration of offenders for parole during epidemic

1. This subsection applies to a requirement in any of sections 21 to 27 for the Board to consider an offender for parole that (but for this section) would have the effect of requiring the Board to consider an offender for parole—

2. while an epidemic management notice is in force; or
3. after an epidemic management notice has expired, but while (in the Board's opinion) there remains as an effect of the outbreak of the disease referred to in the notice a backlog of offenders who, by virtue of one of those requirements, should have been considered for parole before the offender.

4. It is a sufficient compliance with a requirement to which subsection (1) applies if the Board considers the offender concerned for parole as soon after he or she should have been considered as is reasonably practicable in the circumstances.

5. The circumstances include—

6. the number of appropriately qualified employees of the chief executive available to produce reports for the Board:
7. the number of appropriately qualified employees of the chief executive available to participate in hearings of the Board:
8. the number of Board members available to conduct hearings:
9. the number of offenders who have not yet been considered for parole as required by any of sections 21 to 27:
10. the number and seriousness of the other matters pending before the Board.

11. In deciding the order in which it should consider for parole offenders who, by virtue of subsection (2), may be considered for parole as soon after they should have been considered as is reasonably practicable in the circumstances, the Board—

12. must first consider how much time has passed since each of them should have been considered; but
13. may then consider them for parole in any order it thinks appropriate.

14. If the notice applies to only stated parts of New Zealand, subsections (1) to (4) apply within those parts only.