88R6124 CJD-D
By: Vasut H.B. No. 1261
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the punishment for contempt of court by a truancy court.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 65.251(a), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) If a child fails to obey an order issued by a truancy
court under Section 65.103(a) or a child is in direct contempt of
court, the truancy court, after providing notice and an opportunity
for a hearing, may hold the child in contempt of court and order any
[either or both] of the following:
(1) that the child pay a fine not to exceed $100; [or]
(2) that the Department of Public Safety suspend the
child's driver's license or permit or, if the child does not have a
license or permit, order that the Department of Public Safety deny
the issuance of a license or permit to the child until the child
fully complies with the court's orders;
(3) that the child complete not more than eight hours
of community service; or
(4) that the child be confined in a secure juvenile
detention facility for not more than one day.
SECTION 2. Section 65.251(e), Family Code, is repealed.
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a child who fails to obey an order issued by a truancy court under
Section 65.103(a), Family Code, or who is found to be in contempt of
court on or after the effective date of this Act. Failure to obey an
order issued under that section or a finding of contempt of court
that occurs before the effective date of this Act is governed by the
law in effect on the date the order or finding occurred, and the
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.