Bill Text: TX HB2027 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to information regarding the procedures and available resources for the sealing of juvenile records.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-04-29 - Referred to Criminal Justice [HB2027 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB2027-Engrossed.html
86R22082 ADM-D | ||
By: Bowers, Allen, et al. | H.B. No. 2027 |
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relating to information regarding the procedures and available | ||
resources for the sealing of juvenile records. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 58.262, Family Code, is amended by | ||
amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (a-1), | ||
(b-1), and (e) to read as follows: | ||
(a) When a child is referred to the juvenile probation | ||
department, an employee of the juvenile probation department shall | ||
give the child and the child's parent, guardian, or custodian: | ||
(1) a written explanation describing the process of | ||
sealing records under this subchapter and a copy of this | ||
subchapter; and | ||
(2) a list of local resources that may assist the child | ||
in applying to have the child's records sealed, including attorneys | ||
who, at low or no cost, represent persons in applying for the | ||
sealing of juvenile records. | ||
(a-1) At the time an employee of the juvenile probation | ||
department gives a written explanation under Subsection (a), the | ||
employee shall additionally provide an oral explanation of the | ||
process of sealing records to the child and the child's parent, | ||
guardian, or custodian and allow any of those persons to ask | ||
questions regarding the process. | ||
(b) On the final discharge of a child, or on the last | ||
official action in the matter if there is no adjudication, a | ||
probation officer, other official at the juvenile probation | ||
department, or official at the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, | ||
as appropriate, shall give the child and the child's parent, | ||
guardian, or custodian: | ||
(1) a written explanation regarding the eligibility of | ||
the child's records for sealing under this subchapter and a copy of | ||
this subchapter; and | ||
(2) a list of local resources that may assist the child | ||
in applying to have the child's records sealed, including attorneys | ||
who, at low or no cost, represent persons in applying for the | ||
sealing of juvenile records. | ||
(b-1) At the time a probation officer, other official at the | ||
juvenile probation department, or official at the Texas Juvenile | ||
Justice Department gives a written explanation under Subsection | ||
(b), the officer or official shall additionally provide an oral | ||
explanation of the eligibility of the child's records for sealing | ||
to the child and the child's parent, guardian, or custodian and | ||
allow any of those persons to ask questions regarding the child's | ||
eligibility and the process of having records sealed. | ||
(e) The Texas Juvenile Justice Department shall publish on | ||
the department's Internet website a brochure that describes the | ||
process of sealing records under this subchapter and that lists | ||
resources that may assist a child in applying to seal the child's | ||
records. | ||
SECTION 2. Subchapter C-1, Chapter 58, Family Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 58.2625 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 58.2625. ONLINE DIRECTORY OF ATTORNEYS FOR SEALING | ||
JUVENILE RECORDS. (a) In this section, "state bar" means the State | ||
Bar of Texas. | ||
(b) The state bar shall create and maintain a directory of | ||
attorneys in this state who, at low or no cost, represent persons in | ||
applying for the sealing of juvenile records. The directory must | ||
describe the administrative judicial regions created under Section | ||
74.042, Government Code, and list the attorneys who offer that | ||
representation in those regions. | ||
(c) The state bar shall make the directory available to the | ||
public on the state bar's Internet website. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |