1. (a) As used in this section, the years of an inmate's confinement are "consecutive" if:

   1. (1) the inmate has remained in the continuous custody of the department for the requisite length of time; or

   2. (2) the inmate would have remained in the continuous custody of the department for the requisite length of time, but:

      1. (A) was released from the custody of the department on the basis of an erroneous court order; and
      2. (B) returned to the custody of the department not later than seventy-two (72) hours after the erroneous court order was rescinded.

2. (b) Notwithstanding any other law, as soon as practicable after an inmate has been confined to the custody of the department for:

   1. (1) twenty-five (25) consecutive years;
   2. (2) twenty-four (24) consecutive years if the inmate has received one (1) year of educational credit under IC 35-50-6-3.3 ;
   3. (3) twenty-three (23) consecutive years if the inmate has received two (2) years of educational credit under IC 35-50-6-3.3 ;
   4. (4) twenty-two (22) consecutive years if the inmate has received three (3) years of educational credit under IC 35-50-6-3.3 ; or

   5. (5) twenty-one (21) consecutive years if the inmate has received four (4) years of educational credit under IC 35-50-6-3.3 ;

      the department shall identify the inmate to the parole board and provide the parole board with the inmate's offender progress report.

As added by P.L.119-2008, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.42-2010, SEC.1; P.L.228-2011, SEC.1; P.L.6-2012, SEC.79; P.L.74-2015, SEC.13.