84R8015 LED-D
By: Hernandez H.B. No. 1439
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of an educational publication for judicial
guidance on cases involving a child who may be eligible for special
immigrant juvenile status.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 22, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 22.020 to read as follows:
Sec. 22.020. EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATION FOR JUDICIAL GUIDANCE
RELATED TO SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS. (a) The Permanent
Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families established by
the supreme court shall develop a comprehensive, educational
publication to provide judicial guidance in determining a court's
jurisdiction and presiding over a case that involves a child who may
be eligible for special immigrant juvenile status, as defined by 8
U.S.C. Section 1101, and in making findings and issuing orders to
assist in determining the child's eligibility for that status.
(b) The publication must:
(1) include information about:
(A) federal law relating to special immigrant
juvenile status;
(B) existing jurisdiction of courts in this state
over cases involving a child who may be eligible for special
immigrant juvenile status;
(C) definitions of abuse, neglect, and
abandonment in Texas law; and
(D) findings necessary for a child to be granted
special immigrant juvenile status;
(2) be compiled into a single document; and
(3) be made available in hard copy and electronic
formats.
(c) The commission shall distribute the publication:
(1) electronically to each court in this state with
jurisdiction over juvenile cases;
(2) in hard copy format at judicial conferences and
meetings; and
(3) in hard copy format on request.
SECTION 2. The Permanent Judicial Commission for Children,
Youth and Families shall develop and distribute to each court in
this state with jurisdiction over juvenile cases the educational
publication required by Section 22.020, Government Code, as added
by this Act, not later than September 1, 2016.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.