By: Rose H.B. No. 2626
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of an advisory committee to examine and
recommend a plan to increase the minimum age of juvenile
jurisdiction.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "board" means the Texas
Juvenile Justice Board.
SECTION 2. JUVENILE JURISDICTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. Not
later than December 1, 2015, the board shall appoint an advisory
committee to develop a plan for raising the minimum age of a child
subject to juvenile court jurisdiction from 10 years of age to 13
years of age.
SECTION 3. APPOINTMENTS; PRESIDING OFFICER. (a) In making
appointments to the advisory committee, the board shall appoint
members the board considers appropriate and who represent the
geographic diversity of the state. The advisory committee must
include:
(1) one member from the Texas Juvenile Justice
Department;
(2) one member from the Department of State Health
Services;
(3) one member from the Health and Human Services
Commission;
(4) one member from the Texas Education Agency or who
has expertise in education;
(5) one member from the Legislative Budget Board with
relevant expertise;
(6) at least one member from the Department of Family
and Protective Services;
(7) at least three chief juvenile probation officers,
including at least one chief juvenile probation officer from an
urban county, one chief juvenile probation officer from a suburban
county, and one chief juvenile probation officer from a rural
county;
(8) at least two members from local mental health
authorities, including at least one member from an urban county and
one member from a rural county;
(9) a prosecutor with expertise in prosecuting
juvenile offenders;
(10) a defense attorney who specializes in juvenile
defense;
(11) a youth advocate;
(12) private providers of youth services, including
prevention services;
(13) an individual with expertise in adolescent
development or the impact of trauma on adolescents;
(14) an individual who was involved with the juvenile
justice system before the individual's thirteenth birthday or a
parent of an individual who was involved with the juvenile justice
system before the individual's thirteenth birthday; and
(15) any other member considered appropriate by the
board.
(b) The board shall select one member of the advisory
committee to serve as presiding officer of the advisory committee.
SECTION 4. COMPENSATION. A member of the advisory
committee serves without compensation and is not entitled to
reimbursement for travel expenses.
SECTION 5. APPLICATION OF LAWS GOVERNING ADVISORY
COMMITTEES. The advisory committee is not subject to Chapter 2110,
Government Code.
SECTION 6. DUTIES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The advisory
committee shall:
(1) evaluate the feasibility of raising the minimum
age of a child subject to juvenile court jurisdiction from 10 years
of age to 13 years of age;
(2) identify services currently available for
juveniles between 10 and 13 years of age within the juvenile justice
system; and
(3) develop an implementation plan to raise the
minimum age of a child subject to juvenile court jurisdiction from
10 years of age to 13 years of age, including:
(A) methods for ensuring that juveniles between
10 and 13 years of age who currently receive services through the
juvenile justice system continue to be eligible for and receive
services outside of the juvenile justice system; and
(B) any legislative, administrative, or funding
provisions required to adopt the plan.
SECTION 7. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2016, the
advisory committee shall submit to the Texas Juvenile Justice
Board, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and appropriate
committees of the legislature a report that contains the advisory
committee's findings and the implementation plan developed under
Section 6 of this Act.
SECTION 8. EXPIRATION DATE. The advisory committee is
abolished and this Act expires December 31, 2016.
SECTION 9. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015.