H.B. No. 454
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a specialty treatment court for certain
individuals residing with a child who is the subject of a juvenile
court case.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle K, Title 2, Government Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 130 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 130. JUVENILE FAMILY DRUG COURT PROGRAM
Sec. 130.001. JUVENILE FAMILY DRUG COURT PROGRAM
DEFINED. In this chapter, "juvenile family drug court program"
means a program that has the following essential characteristics:
(1) the integration of substance abuse treatment
services in the processing of cases and proceedings under Title 3,
Family Code;
(2) the use of a comprehensive case management
approach involving court-appointed case managers and
court-appointed special advocates to rehabilitate an individual
who is suspected of substance abuse and who resides with a child who
is the subject of a case filed under Title 3, Family Code;
(3) early identification and prompt placement of
eligible individuals who volunteer to participate in the program;
(4) comprehensive substance abuse needs assessment
and referrals to appropriate substance abuse treatment agencies for
participants;
(5) a progressive treatment approach with specific
requirements for participants to meet for successful completion of
the program;
(6) monitoring of abstinence through periodic
screening for alcohol or screening for controlled substances;
(7) ongoing judicial interaction with program
participants;
(8) monitoring and evaluation of program goals and
effectiveness;
(9) continuing interdisciplinary education for the
promotion of effective program planning, implementation, and
operation; and
(10) development of partnerships with public agencies
and community organizations.
Sec. 130.002. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH PROGRAM. The
commissioners court of a county may establish a juvenile family
drug court program for individuals who:
(1) are suspected by the Department of Family and
Protective Services or the court of having a substance abuse
problem; and
(2) reside in the home of a child who is the subject of
a case filed under Title 3, Family Code.
Sec. 130.003. PARTICIPANT PAYMENT FOR TREATMENT AND
SERVICES. A juvenile family drug court program may require a
participant to pay the cost of all treatment and services received
while participating in the program, based on the participant's
ability to pay.
Sec. 130.004. FUNDING. A county that creates a juvenile
family drug court under this chapter shall explore the possibility
of using court improvement project money to finance the juvenile
family drug court in the county. The county also shall explore the
availability of federal and state matching money to finance the
court.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 454 was passed by the House on April
9, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 454 was passed by the Senate on May
13, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor