Filed Bills, 2013 – Youth Justice

TCJC is following several key bills related to youth justice, which we have categorized into various topic areas below:

Safely Reduce the Over-Criminalization of School-Related Offenses

BILL NUMBER: HB 457 (Dukes)
Bill Caption: Relating to the aggregation of data in the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) regarding public school students in foster care. 

BILL NUMBER: HB 482 (Alvarado)
Bill Caption: Relating to the curriculum that must be provided by a disciplinary alternative education program.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet

BILL NUMBER: HB 637 (Giddings)
Bill Caption: Relating to placement of certain public school students in a disciplinary alternative education program.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet

BILL NUMBER: HB 917 (Walle)
Bill Caption: Relating to education and training for certain school district peace officers and school resource officers.
TCJC Materials: Testimony

BILL NUMBER: HB 918 (Walle)
Bill Caption: Relating to requiring a school district to report data regarding citations issued to and arrests made of students.

BILL NUMBER: HB 946 (Giddings)
Bill Caption: Relating to the reporting of information by a school district relating to certain offenses committed by certain students.
TCJC Action: Card in Support

BILL NUMBER: HB 977 (Raymond)
Bill Caption: Relating to establishing a pilot program in designated public high schools in certain municipalities for placement of students in Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programs as an alternative to placement in disciplinary or juvenile justice alternative education programs.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet

BILL NUMBER: HB 1231 (Giddings)
Bill Caption: Relating to the application of the offenses of disrupting public school classes or transportation to persons younger than 12 years of age.
TCJC Action: Card in Support

BILL NUMBER: HB 1479 (Villareal)
Bill Caption: Relating to establishing a committee in certain counties to recommend a uniform truancy policy.
TCJC Action: Card in Support (House) | Card in Support (Senate)
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective Immediately, 6/14/13

BILL NUMBER: HB 1853 (Ratliff)
Bill Caption: Relating to a behavior improvement plan or a behavior intervention plan adopted for certain students with an individualized education program.
TCJC Action: Card in Support

BILL NUMBER: HB 1952 (Thompson, Senfronia)
Bill Caption: Relating to professional development training for certain public school personnel regarding student disciplinary procedures.
TCJC Action: Card in Support (House) | Card in Support (Senate)
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective Immediately, 6/14/13

BILL NUMBER: HB 2221 (Wu)
Bill Caption: Relating to a compliance report submitted to the United States Department of Education containing data concerning certain citations issued and certain incidences of students taken into custody on public school property.

BILL NUMBER: HB 2651 (Allen)
Bill Caption: Relating to a review by the commissioner of education of state law regarding student suspension, expulsion, or other disciplinary action and the implementation of that law by school districts.

BILL NUMBER: HB 3057 (Herrero)
Bill Caption: Relating to the prosecution of certain misdemeanor offenses committed by children and to school district law enforcement.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet | Testimony

BILL NUMBER: SB 43  (Zaffirini)
Bill Caption: Relating to consideration of school district disciplinary placement information in evaluating district performance.

BILL NUMBER: SB 393 (West)
Bill Caption: Relating to the criminal procedures related to children who commit certain Class C misdemeanors.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet | Testimony
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective on 9/1/13

BILL NUMBER: SB 395 (West)
Bill Caption: Relating to fines and court costs imposed on a child in a criminal case.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet | Testimony
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective on 9/1/13

BILL NUMBER: SB 420 (West)
Bill Caption: Relating to disproportionate discretionary disciplinary action by school districts against students of a particular race or students enrolled in a special education program.

BILL NUMBER: SB 833 (Davis)
Bill Caption: Relating to the collection of data through the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) as to the foster care status of public school students.
TCJC Action: Card in Support
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective Immediately, 6/14/13

BILL NUMBER: SB 914 (Lucio)
Bill Caption: Relating to a behavior improvement plan or a behavioral intervention plan adopted for certain students with an individualized education program.
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective Immediately, 6/14/13

BILL NUMBER: SB 1114 (Whitmire; West)
Bill Caption: Relating to the prosecution of certain misdemeanor offenses committed by children and to school district law enforcement.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet | Testimony
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective on 9/1/13

BILL NUMBER: SB 1115 (Whitmire)
Bill Caption: Relating to reporting, standards, restrictions, and requirements regarding public school disciplinary actions.
TCJC Action: Card in Support

BILL NUMBER: SB 1234 (Whitmire)
Bill Caption: Relating to the prevention of truancy and the offense of failure to attend school.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet | Testimony

BILL NUMBER: SB 1419 (West)
Bill Caption: Relating to funding for juvenile case managers through certain court costs and to the establishment of the truancy prevention and diversion fund.
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective on 9/1/13

Reduce Violent Means of Subduing Youth by Campus Personnel

BILL NUMBER: SB 1122 (West)
Bill Caption: Relating to a prohibition against the use of certain sprays, stun guns, and Tasers by school district peace officers, security personnel, and other employees against public school students.

Address Disproportionality Across Education, Juvenile Justice, Mental Heath, and Other Systems

BILL NUMBER: HB 2038 (Dukes; Raymond; Coleman)
Bill Caption: Relating to addressing disproportionality and disparities in the education, juvenile justice, child welfare, health, and mental health systems, the continuation and operation of the Interagency Council for Addressing Disproportionality, and the duties of the Center for Elimination of Disproportionality and Disparities.
TCJC Action: Card in Support

Safely Reduce Pretrial Detention Periods

BILL NUMBER: HB 529  (Turner, Sylvester)
Bill Caption: Relating to the detention of juveniles pending criminal trial.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet | Testimony

BILL NUMBER: HB 1318 (Turner, Sylvester)
Bill Caption: Relating to the appointment of counsel to represent certain youths and indigent defendants.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet | Testimony
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective on 9/1/13; Sections 1 and 6 effective on 9/1/14

Improve Safeguards During the Judicial Process

BILL NUMBER: HB 1282 (Turner, Sylvester)
Bill Caption: Relating to the copying of certain records and files relating to a child who is a party to a juvenile proceeding.
TCJC Action: Card in Support

BILL NUMBER: SB 670 (Whitmire)
Bill Caption: Relating to the copying of certain records and files relating to a child who is a party to a juvenile proceeding.
TCJC Action: Card in Support
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective Immediately, 5/24/13

Expand Reliance on Local Supervision, Diversion Programs, and Treatment Strategies

BILL NUMBER: HB 91 (Thompson, Senfronia)
Bill Caption: Relating to the designation of a juvenile court and a pre-adjudication diversion program for certain juveniles alleged to have engaged in conduct that violates certain penal laws regarding prostitution.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet

BILL NUMBER: HB 144  (Raymond)
Bill Caption: Relating to a mental examination of a child subject to the juvenile justice system.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet | Testimony (House) | CSHB 144 Fact Sheet | CSHB 144 Testimony (Senate)
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective on 9/1/13

BILL NUMBER: HB 232 (Guillen)
Bill Caption: Relating to allowing certain minors convicted of certain alcohol offenses to perform community service instead of attending an alcohol awareness program.
TCJC Action: Card in Support (House) | Card in Support (Senate)
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective Immediately, 6/14/13

BILL NUMBER: HB 937 (Farias)
Bill Caption: Relating to establishing a restorative justice pilot program for juvenile offenders in certain counties.
TCJC Materials: CSHB 937 Fact Sheet | CSHB 937 Testimony

BILL NUMBER: HB 2888 (Turner, Sylvester)
Bill Caption: Relating to establishing the juvenile first offender program.

BILL NUMBER: SB 92 (Van de Putte)
Bill Caption: Relating to the designation of a juvenile court and a program for certain juveniles who may be the victims of human trafficking.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet | CSSB 92 Fact Sheet | CSSB 92 Testimony
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective on 9/1/13

BILL NUMBER: SB 511 (Whitmire)
Bill Caption: Relating to the commitment of certain juveniles to local post-adjudication secure correctional facilities in certain counties and to the release under supervision of those juveniles.
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective on 12/1/13

Effectively Address Trauma

BILL NUMBER: SB 1356 (Van de Putte)
Bill Caption: Relating to human trafficking and its victims and the care of juveniles who have experienced traumatic events.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet | Testimony
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective on 9/1/13

Effectively Address Sex Trafficking

BILL NUMBER: HB 3407 (Riddle; Harless; Rose; Thompson, Senfronia)
Bill Caption: Relating to the assessment of juveniles who are victims of sex trafficking.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet | Testimony
Outcome: Amended to SB 1356

BILL NUMBER: SB 1520 (Van de Putte)
Bill Caption: Relating to the assessment of juveniles who are victims of sex trafficking.

Effectively Address Homelessness Among Youth

BILL NUMBER: HB 2240 (Turner, Sylvester; Gonzalez, Naomi; Alvarado)
Bill Caption: Relating to a study on homeless youth.
TCJC Action: Card in Support

Assist Youth and Families Through Targeted Resources and Referrals

BILL NUMBER: HB 2400 (Turner, Sylvester)
Bill Caption: Relating to children who engage in certain conduct indicating a need for supervision and the provision of services to those children and their families.

Implement Individualized Sentencing for High-Level Cases

BILL NUMBER: HB 3617 (Burnam)
Bill Caption: Relating to the punishment for a capital felony committed by an individual younger than 18 years of age.

Improve Conditions for Incarcerated Youth

BILL NUMBER: HB 1266 (Guillen)
Bill Caption: Relating to a review of and report regarding the use of adult and juvenile administrative segregation in facilities in this state.
TCJC Materials: Testimony

BILL NUMBER: HB 1543 (Allen)
Bill Caption: Relating to the eligibility for reappointment of the independent ombudsman of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and the authority of the independent ombudsman in regard to juveniles in custody in certain facilities other than the department’s facilities.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet

BILL NUMBER: HB 2239 (Turner, Sylvester)
Bill Caption: Relating to evaluating the adequacy of education provided to children in county jails.

BILL NUMBER: HB 2733 (White)
Bill Caption: Relating to the administration and operation of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
TCJC Action: Card in Support
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective on 9/1/13

BILL NUMBER: HB 2862 (McClendon)
Bill Caption: Relating to procedures related to juvenile cases.
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective on 9/1/13

BILL NUMBER: SB 1003 (Carona)
Bill Caption: Relating to a review of and report regarding the use of adult and juvenile administrative segregation in facilities in this state.
TCJC Materials: Testimony
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective on 9/1/13

BILL NUMBER: SB 1357 (Davis)
Bill Caption: Relating to the use of administrative segregation or seclusion in county jails.

BILL NUMBER: SB 1517 (Van de Putte)
Bill Caption: Relating to the collection of data regarding the placement of a child in disciplinary seclusion in a juvenile facility.
TCJC Materials: CSSB 1517 Fact Sheet
Outcome: Amended to HB 2862 and SB 1003

BILL NUMBER: SB 1717 (Rodríguez)
Bill Caption: Relating to the authority of the office of independent ombudsman with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department in regard to juveniles in custody in facilities other than juvenile justice facilities.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet

Improve Rehabilitative Progress by Reducing the Transfer or Sentencing of Youth to Adult Facilities

BILL NUMBER: HB 2241 (Turner, Sylvester)
Bill Caption: Relating to the maximum age of commitment of certain juveniles to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

BILL NUMBER: HB 3634  (McClendon)
Bill Caption: Relating to the creation of the Juvenile Court Jurisdiction Task Force.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet | Testimony

Safely Widen Record Sealing and Expungement in Certain Instances

BILL NUMBER: HB 497 (Hernandez Luna)
Bill Caption: Relating to the restriction of access to the records and files of a child charged with or convicted of certain fine-only misdemeanor offenses.

BILL NUMBER: HB 528 (Turner, Sylvester; Giddings; Miles; Wu)
Bill Caption: Relating to the restriction of access to the records and files of a child charged with or convicted of certain fine-only misdemeanor offenses.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet | Testimony
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective on 1/1/14

BILL NUMBER: HB 933 (Turner, Sylvester)
Bill Caption: Relating to automatic expunction of a juvenile’s record after completion of a deferred prosecution program; providing a criminal penalty.
TCJC Materials: Testimony

BILL NUMBER: HB 2854 (Miles)
Bill Caption: Relating to the automatic sealing in certain cases of juvenile records of adjudications of delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision.
TCJC Materials: Testimony

BILL NUMBER: HB 3058 (Herrero)
Bill Caption: Relating to restricting access to records of children convicted of or receiving deferred disposition for certain fine-only misdemeanors.

BILL NUMBER: SB 394 (West)
Relating to restricting access to records of children convicted of or receiving deferred disposition for certain fine-only misdemeanors.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet | Testimony
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective on 9/1/13

BILL NUMBER: SB 915  (West)
Bill Caption: Relating to the automatic sealing in certain cases of juvenile records of adjudications of delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet | Testimony

Study Ways to Safely End Fingerprinting for Certain Misdemeanor Offenses, Which has Long-Term Collateral Consequences

BILL NUMBER: SB 1769 (Rodríguez)
Bill Caption: Relating to the creation of an advisory committee to examine the fingerprinting practices of juvenile probation departments.
TCJC Materials: Testimony
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective Immediately, 6/14/13

Study Recidivism Rates Among Youth Sent to the Adult Criminal Justice System

BILL NUMBER: HB 1541 (Turner, Sylvester)
Bill Caption: Relating to a study on recidivism rates for certain juveniles committed to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet | Testimony

Help to Identify Resources for Youth in the Foster Care System

BILL NUMBER: HB 2719 (Guillen)
Bill Caption: Relating to collecting and reporting information concerning inmates who have been in the conservatorship of a state agency responsible for providing child protective services and concerning inmate parole, reentry, and integration.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet | Testimony (House) | CSSB 2719 Testimony (Senate)
Bill Summary: Click here
Outcome: Effective on 9/1/13

Study Ways to Improve the Overall Juvenile Justice System in Texas

BILL NUMBER: HB 2399 (Turner, Sylvester)
Bill Caption: Relating to a study of the feasibility and desirability of certain changes to the juvenile justice system.
TCJC Materials: Fact Sheet | Testimony