Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2027 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		86R22082 ADM-D
2	2		By: Bowers, Allen, et al. H.B. No. 2027
	3	+	Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2027:
	4	+	By: Dutton C.S.H.B. No. 2027
3	5
4	6
5	7		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	8		AN ACT
7	9		relating to information regarding the procedures and available
8	10		resources for the sealing of juvenile records.
9	11		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	12		SECTION 1. Section 58.262, Family Code, is amended by
11	13		amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (a-1),
12	14		(b-1), and (e) to read as follows:
13	15		(a) When a child is referred to the juvenile probation
14	16		department, an employee of the juvenile probation department shall
15	17		give the child and the child's parent, guardian, or custodian:
16	18		(1) a written explanation describing the process of
17	19		sealing records under this subchapter and a copy of this
18	20		subchapter; and
19	21		(2) a list of local resources that may assist the child
20	22		in applying to have the child's records sealed, including attorneys
21	23		who, at low or no cost, represent persons in applying for the
22	24		sealing of juvenile records.
23	25		(a-1) At the time an employee of the juvenile probation
24	26		department gives a written explanation under Subsection (a), the
25	27		employee shall additionally provide an oral explanation of the
26	28		process of sealing records to the child and the child's parent,
27	29		guardian, or custodian and allow any of those persons to ask
28	30		questions regarding the process.
29	31		(b) On the final discharge of a child, or on the last
30	32		official action in the matter if there is no adjudication, a
31	33		probation officer, other official at the juvenile probation
32	34		department, or official at the Texas Juvenile Justice Department,
33	35		as appropriate, shall give the child and the child's parent,
34	36		guardian, or custodian:
35	37		(1) a written explanation regarding the eligibility of
36	38		the child's records for sealing under this subchapter and a copy of
37	39		this subchapter; and
38	40		(2) a list of local resources that may assist the child
39	41		in applying to have the child's records sealed, including attorneys
40	42		who, at low or no cost, represent persons in applying for the
41	43		sealing of juvenile records.
42	44		(b-1) At the time a probation officer, other official at the
43	45		juvenile probation department, or official at the Texas Juvenile
44	46		Justice Department gives a written explanation under Subsection
45	47		(b), the officer or official shall additionally provide an oral
46	48		explanation of the eligibility of the child's records for sealing
47	49		to the child and the child's parent, guardian, or custodian and
48	50		allow any of those persons to ask questions regarding the child's
49	51		eligibility and the process of having records sealed.
50	52		(e) The Texas Juvenile Justice Department shall publish on
51	53		the department's Internet website a brochure that describes the
52	54		process of sealing records under this subchapter and that lists
53	55		resources that may assist a child in applying to seal the child's
54	56		records.
55	57		SECTION 2. Subchapter C-1, Chapter 58, Family Code, is
56	58		amended by adding Section 58.2625 to read as follows:
57	59		Sec. 58.2625. ONLINE DIRECTORY OF ATTORNEYS FOR SEALING
58	60		JUVENILE RECORDS. (a) In this section, "state bar" means the State
59	61		Bar of Texas.
60	62		(b) The state bar shall create and maintain a directory of
61	63		attorneys in this state who, at low or no cost, represent persons in
62	64		applying for the sealing of juvenile records. The directory must
63	65		describe the administrative judicial regions created under Section
64	66		74.042, Government Code, and list the attorneys who offer that
65	67		representation in those regions.
66	68		(c) The state bar shall make the directory available to the
67	69		public on the state bar's Internet website.
68	70		SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.