Bill Text: TX HB4268 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the age of criminal responsibility and to certain substantive and procedural matters related to that age.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-25 - Referred to Juvenile Justice & Family Issues [HB4268 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB4268-Introduced.html

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86R14422 ADM-D
By: Wu H.B. No. 4268

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the age of criminal responsibility and to certain
substantive and procedural matters related to that age.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
ARTICLE 1. AGE OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY
SECTION 1.01. Section 51.02(2), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(2) "Child" means a person who is:
(A) 10 [ten] years of age or older and under 18
[17] years of age; or
(B) 18 [seventeen] years of age or older and
under 20 [18] years of age who is:
(i) alleged or found to have engaged in
delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision as
a result of acts committed before becoming 18 [17] years of age; and
(ii) under the jurisdiction of a juvenile
court.
SECTION 1.02. Section 8.07(b), Penal Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) Unless the juvenile court waives jurisdiction under
Section 54.02, Family Code, and certifies the individual for
criminal prosecution or the juvenile court has previously waived
jurisdiction under that section and certified the individual for
criminal prosecution, a person may not be prosecuted for or
convicted of any offense committed before reaching 18 [17] years of
age except an offense described by Subsections (a)(1)-(5).
SECTION 1.03. The changes in law made by this article apply
only to an offense committed or conduct that occurs on or after
September 1, 2019. An offense committed or conduct that occurred
before September 1, 2019, is governed by the law in effect on the
date the offense was committed or the conduct occurred, and the
former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of
this section, an offense was committed or conduct occurred before
September 1, 2019, if any element of the offense or conduct occurred
before that date.
ARTICLE 2. OFFENSES WITH AGE AS AN ELEMENT
SECTION 2.01. Section 15.031(e), Penal Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(e) An offense under this section is one category lower than
the solicited offense, except that an offense under this section is
the same category as the solicited offense if it is shown on the
trial of the offense that the actor:
(1) was at the time of the offense 18 [17] years of age
or older and a member of a criminal street gang, as defined by
Section 71.01; and
(2) committed the offense with the intent to:
(A) further the criminal activities of the
criminal street gang; or
(B) avoid detection as a member of a criminal
street gang.
SECTION 2.02. Section 21.02(b), Penal Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) A person commits an offense if:
(1) during a period that is 30 or more days in
duration, the person commits two or more acts of sexual abuse,
regardless of whether the acts of sexual abuse are committed
against one or more victims; and
(2) at the time of the commission of each of the acts
of sexual abuse, the actor is 18 [17] years of age or older and the
victim is a child younger than 14 years of age, regardless of
whether the actor knows the age of the victim at the time of the
offense.
SECTION 2.03. Section 33.021(b), Penal Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) A person who is 18 [17] years of age or older commits an
offense if, with the intent to commit an offense listed in Article
62.001(5)(A), (B), or (K), Code of Criminal Procedure, the person,
over the Internet, by electronic mail or text message or other
electronic message service or system, or through a commercial
online service, intentionally:
(1) communicates in a sexually explicit manner with a
minor; or
(2) distributes sexually explicit material to a minor.
SECTION 2.04. Section 71.028(c), Penal Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), the punishment
prescribed for an offense described by Subsection (b) is increased
to the punishment prescribed for the next highest category of
offense if the actor is 18 [17] years of age or older and it is shown
beyond a reasonable doubt on the trial of the offense that the actor
committed the offense at a location that was:
(1) in, on, or within 1,000 feet of any:
(A) real property that is owned, rented, or
leased by a school or school board;
(B) premises owned, rented, or leased by an
institution of higher education;
(C) premises of a public or private youth center;
or
(D) playground;
(2) in, on, or within 300 feet of any:
(A) shopping mall;
(B) movie theater;
(C) premises of a public swimming pool; or
(D) premises of a video arcade facility; or
(3) on a school bus.
SECTION 2.05. Sections 545.424(b) and (b-1),
Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
(b) A person under 18 [17] years of age who holds a
restricted motorcycle license or moped license may not operate a
motorcycle or moped while using a wireless communication device,
except in case of emergency. This subsection does not apply to a
person licensed by the Federal Communications Commission while
operating a radio frequency device other than a wireless
communication device.
(b-1) A person under 18 [17] years of age who holds a
restricted motorcycle license or moped license, during the 12-month
period following the issuance of an original motorcycle license or
moped license to the person, may not operate a motorcycle or moped
after midnight and before 5 a.m. unless:
(1) the person is in sight of the person's parent or
guardian; or
(2) the operation of the vehicle is necessary for the
operator to attend or participate in employment or a school-related
activity or because of a medical emergency.
SECTION 2.06. Section 729.001(a), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) A person who is younger than 18 [17] years of age commits
an offense if the person operates a motor vehicle on a public road
or highway, a street or alley in a municipality, or a public beach
in violation of any traffic law of this state, including:
(1) Chapter 502, other than Section [502.282 or]
502.412;
(2) Chapter 521, other than an offense under Section
521.457;
(3) Subtitle C, other than an offense punishable by
imprisonment or by confinement in jail under Section 550.021,
550.022, 550.024, or 550.025;
(4) Chapter 601;
(5) Chapter 621;
(6) Chapter 661; and
(7) Chapter 681.
SECTION 2.07. Section 729.002, Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 729.002. OPERATION OF MOTOR VEHICLE BY MINOR WITHOUT
LICENSE. (a) A person who is younger than 18 [17] years of age
commits an offense if the person operates a motor vehicle without a
driver's license authorizing the operation of a motor vehicle on a:
(1) public road or highway;
(2) street or alley in a municipality; or
(3) public beach as defined by Section 729.001.
(b) An offense under this section is punishable in the same
manner as if the person was 18 [17] years of age or older and
operated a motor vehicle without a license as described by
Subsection (a), except that an offense under this section is not
punishable by confinement or imprisonment.
SECTION 2.08. The changes in law made by this article apply
only to an offense committed on or after September 1, 2019. An
offense committed before September 1, 2019, is governed by the law
in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law
is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this
section, an offense was committed before September 1, 2019, if any
element of the offense occurred before that date.
ARTICLE 3. CRIMINAL PROCEDURES
SECTION 3.01. Article 4.19, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended to read as follows:
Art. 4.19. TRANSFER OF PERSON CERTIFIED TO STAND TRIAL AS AN
ADULT. (a) Notwithstanding the order of a juvenile court to
detain a person under the age of 18 [17] who has been certified to
stand trial as an adult in a certified juvenile detention facility
under Section 54.02(h), Family Code, the judge of the criminal
court having jurisdiction over the person may order the person to be
transferred to an adult facility. A child who is transferred to an
adult facility must be detained under conditions meeting the
requirements of Section 51.12, Family Code.
(b) On the 18th [17th] birthday of a person described by
Subsection (a) who is detained in a certified juvenile detention
facility under Section 54.02(h), Family Code, the judge of the
criminal court having jurisdiction over the person shall order the
person to be transferred to an adult facility.
SECTION 3.02. Article 45.0215(a), Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
(a) This article applies to a defendant who has not had the
disabilities of minority removed and [has been:
[(1) charged with an offense other than an offense
under Section 43.261, Penal Code, if the defendant is younger than
17 years of age; or
[(2) charged with an offense under Section 43.261,
Penal Code, if the defendant] is younger than 18 years of age.
SECTION 3.03. Articles 45.0216(b) and (h), Code of Criminal
Procedure, are amended to read as follows:
(b) A person may apply to the court in which the person was
convicted to have the conviction expunged as provided by this
article on or after the person's 18th [17th] birthday if:
(1) the person was convicted of not more than one
offense described by Section 8.07(a)(4) or (5), Penal Code, while
the person was a child; or
(2) the person was convicted only once of an offense
under Section 43.261, Penal Code.
(h) Records of a person under 18 [17] years of age relating
to a complaint may be expunged under this article if:
(1) the complaint was dismissed under Article 45.051
or 45.052 or other law; or
(2) the person was acquitted of the offense.
SECTION 3.04. Article 45.045(b), Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
(b) A capias pro fine may not be issued for an individual
convicted for an offense committed before the individual's 18th
[17th] birthday unless:
(1) the individual is 18 [17] years of age or older;
(2) the court finds that the issuance of the capias pro
fine is justified after considering:
(A) the sophistication and maturity of the
individual;
(B) the criminal record and history of the
individual; and
(C) the reasonable likelihood of bringing about
the discharge of the judgment through the use of procedures and
services currently available to the court; and
(3) the court has proceeded under Article 45.050 to
compel the individual to discharge the judgment.
SECTION 3.05. Article 45.0492(a), Code of Criminal
Procedure, as added by Chapter 227 (H.B. 350), Acts of the 82nd
Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, is amended to read as follows:
(a) This article applies only to a defendant younger than 18
[17] years of age who is assessed a fine or costs for a Class C
misdemeanor occurring in a building or on the grounds of the primary
or secondary school at which the defendant was enrolled at the time
of the offense.
SECTION 3.06. Article 45.0492(a), Code of Criminal
Procedure, as added by Chapter 777 (H.B. 1964), Acts of the 82nd
Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, is amended to read as follows:
(a) This article applies only to a defendant younger than 18
[17] years of age who is assessed a fine or costs for a Class C
misdemeanor.
SECTION 3.07. Articles 45.050(d), (e), and (g), Code of
Criminal Procedure, are amended to read as follows:
(d) A justice or municipal court may hold a person in
contempt and impose a remedy authorized by Subsection (c)(2) if:
(1) the person was convicted for an offense committed
before the person's 18th [17th] birthday;
(2) the person failed to obey the order while the
person was 18 [17] years of age or older; and
(3) the failure to obey occurred under circumstances
that constitute contempt of court.
(e) A justice or municipal court may hold a person in
contempt and impose a remedy authorized by Subsection (c)(2) if the
person, while younger than 18 [17] years of age, engaged in conduct
in contempt of an order issued by the justice or municipal court,
but contempt proceedings could not be held before the person's 18th
[17th] birthday.
(g) A justice or municipal court may not refer a child who
violates a court order while 18 [17] years of age or older to a
juvenile court for delinquency proceedings for contempt of court.
SECTION 3.08. Article 45.057(h), Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
(h) A child and parent required to appear before the court
have an obligation to provide the court in writing with the current
address and residence of the child. The obligation does not end
when the child reaches age 18 [17]. On or before the seventh day
after the date the child or parent changes residence, the child or
parent shall notify the court of the current address in the manner
directed by the court. A violation of this subsection may result in
arrest and is a Class C misdemeanor. The obligation to provide
notice terminates on discharge and satisfaction of the judgment or
final disposition not requiring a finding of guilt.
SECTION 3.09. Article 45.058(h), Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
(h) In this article, "child" means a person who is:
(1) at least 10 years of age and younger than 18 [17]
years of age; and
(2) charged with or convicted of an offense that a
justice or municipal court has jurisdiction of under Article 4.11
or 4.14.
SECTION 3.10. Articles 45.060(a), (b), and (e), Code of
Criminal Procedure, are amended to read as follows:
(a) Except as provided by Articles 45.058 and 45.059, an
individual may not be taken into secured custody for offenses
alleged to have occurred before the individual's 18th [17th]
birthday.
(b) On or after an individual's 18th [17th] birthday, if the
court has used all available procedures under this chapter to
secure the individual's appearance to answer allegations made
before the individual's 18th [17th] birthday, the court may issue a
notice of continuing obligation to appear by personal service or by
mail to the last known address and residence of the individual. The
notice must order the individual to appear at a designated time,
place, and date to answer the allegations detailed in the notice.
(e) A notice of continuing obligation to appear issued under
this article must contain the following statement provided in
boldfaced type or capital letters:
"WARNING: COURT RECORDS REVEAL THAT BEFORE YOUR 18TH [17TH]
BIRTHDAY YOU WERE ACCUSED OF A CRIMINAL OFFENSE AND HAVE FAILED TO
MAKE AN APPEARANCE OR ENTER A PLEA IN THIS MATTER. AS AN ADULT, YOU
ARE NOTIFIED THAT YOU HAVE A CONTINUING OBLIGATION TO APPEAR IN THIS
CASE. FAILURE TO APPEAR AS REQUIRED BY THIS NOTICE MAY BE AN
ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL OFFENSE AND RESULT IN A WARRANT BEING ISSUED
FOR YOUR ARREST."
SECTION 3.11. Article 62.001(6), Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
(6) "Sexually violent offense" means any of the
following offenses committed by a person 18 [17] years of age or
older:
(A) an offense under Section 21.02 (Continuous
sexual abuse of young child or children), 21.11(a)(1) (Indecency
with a child), 22.011 (Sexual assault), or 22.021 (Aggravated
sexual assault), Penal Code;
(B) an offense under Section 43.25 (Sexual
performance by a child), Penal Code;
(C) an offense under Section 20.04(a)(4)
(Aggravated kidnapping), Penal Code, if the defendant committed the
offense with intent to violate or abuse the victim sexually;
(D) an offense under Section 30.02 (Burglary),
Penal Code, if the offense is punishable under Subsection (d) of
that section and the defendant committed the offense with intent to
commit a felony listed in Paragraph (A) or (C) of Subdivision (5);
or
(E) an offense under the laws of another state,
federal law, the laws of a foreign country, or the Uniform Code of
Military Justice if the offense contains elements that are
substantially similar to the elements of an offense listed under
Paragraph (A), (B), (C), or (D).
SECTION 3.12. Article 62.351(a), Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
(a) During or after disposition of a case under Section
54.04, Family Code, for adjudication of an offense for which
registration is required under this chapter, the juvenile court on
motion of the respondent shall conduct a hearing to determine
whether the interests of the public require registration under this
chapter. The motion may be filed and the hearing held regardless of
whether the respondent is under 19 [18] years of age. Notice of the
motion and hearing shall be provided to the prosecuting attorney.
SECTION 3.13. Article 62.352(c), Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
(c) If the court enters an order described by Subsection
(b)(1), the court retains discretion and jurisdiction to require,
or exempt the respondent from, registration under this chapter at
any time during the treatment or on the successful or unsuccessful
completion of treatment, except that during the period of deferral,
registration may not be required. Following successful completion
of treatment, the respondent is exempted from registration under
this chapter unless a hearing under this subchapter is held on
motion of the prosecuting attorney, regardless of whether the
respondent is 19 [18] years of age or older, and the court
determines the interests of the public require registration. Not
later than the 10th day after the date of the respondent's
successful completion of treatment, the treatment provider shall
notify the juvenile court and prosecuting attorney of the
completion.
SECTION 3.14. Article 62.353(b), Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
(b) The person may file a motion under Subsection (a) in the
original juvenile case regardless of whether the person, at the
time of filing the motion, is 19 [18] years of age or older. Notice
of the motion shall be provided to the prosecuting attorney. A
hearing on the motion shall be provided as in other cases under this
subchapter.
SECTION 3.15. Section 37.085, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 37.085. ARRESTS PROHIBITED FOR CERTAIN CLASS C
MISDEMEANORS. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a
warrant may not be issued for the arrest of a person for a Class C
misdemeanor under this code committed when the person was younger
than 18 [17] years of age.
SECTION 3.16. Section 153.0071(e-1), Family Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(e-1) Notwithstanding Subsections (d) and (e), a court may
decline to enter a judgment on a mediated settlement agreement if
the court finds:
(1) that:
(A) a party to the agreement was a victim of
family violence, and that circumstance impaired the party's ability
to make decisions; or
(B) the agreement would permit a person who is
subject to registration under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal
Procedure, on the basis of an offense committed by the person when
the person was 18 [17] years of age or older or who otherwise has a
history or pattern of past or present physical or sexual abuse
directed against any person to:
(i) reside in the same household as the
child; or
(ii) otherwise have unsupervised access to
the child; and
(2) that the agreement is not in the child's best
interest.
SECTION 3.17. Section 521.453(i), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(i) If the person ordered to perform community service under
Subsection (h) is younger than 18 [17] years of age, the community
service shall be performed as if ordered by a juvenile court under
Section 54.044(a), Family Code, as a condition of probation under
Section 54.04(d), Family Code.
SECTION 3.18. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
this section, the changes in law made by this article apply only to
an offense committed on or after September 1, 2019. An offense
committed before September 1, 2019, is governed by the law in effect
on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
(b) Articles 45.0216(b) and (h), Code of Criminal
Procedure, as amended by this article, apply only to the expunction
of certain records related to an offense committed on or after
September 1, 2019. The expunction of certain records related to an
offense committed before September 1, 2019, is governed by the law
in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law
is continued in effect for that purpose.
(c) For purposes of this section, an offense was committed
before September 1, 2019, if any element of the offense occurred
before that date.
ARTICLE 4. JUVENILE COURT PROCEDURES
SECTION 4.01. Section 51.041, Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 51.041. JURISDICTION AFTER APPEAL. (a) The court
retains jurisdiction over a person, without regard to the age of the
person, for conduct engaged in by the person before becoming 18 [17]
years of age if, as a result of an appeal by the person or the state
under Chapter 56 of an order of the court, the order is reversed or
modified and the case remanded to the court by the appellate court.
(b) If the respondent is at least 18 years of age when the
order of remand from the appellate court is received by the juvenile
court, the juvenile court shall proceed as provided by Sections
54.02(o)-(r) for the detention of a person at least 19 [18] years of
age in discretionary transfer proceedings. Pending retrial of the
adjudication or transfer proceeding, the juvenile court may:
(1) order the respondent released from custody;
(2) order the respondent detained in a juvenile
detention facility; or
(3) set bond and order the respondent detained in a
county adult facility if bond is not made.
SECTION 4.02. Section 51.0412, Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 51.0412. JURISDICTION OVER INCOMPLETE PROCEEDINGS.
The court retains jurisdiction over a person, without regard to the
age of the person, who is a respondent in an adjudication
proceeding, a disposition proceeding, a proceeding to modify
disposition, a proceeding for waiver of jurisdiction and transfer
to criminal court under Section 54.02(a), or a motion for transfer
of determinate sentence probation to an appropriate district court
if:
(1) the petition or motion was filed while the
respondent was younger than 19 or 20 [18 or 19] years of age, as
applicable;
(2) the proceeding is not complete before the
respondent becomes 19 or 20 [18 or 19] years of age, as applicable;
and
(3) the court enters a finding in the proceeding that
the prosecuting attorney exercised due diligence in an attempt to
complete the proceeding before the respondent became 19 or 20 [18 or
19] years of age, as applicable.
SECTION 4.03. Sections 51.12(f) and (h), Family Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(f) A child detained in a building that contains a jail,
lockup, or other place of secure confinement, including an alcohol
or other drug treatment facility, shall be separated by sight and
sound from adults detained in the same building. Children and
adults are separated by sight and sound only if they are unable to
see each other and conversation between them is not possible. The
separation must extend to all areas of the facility, including
sally ports and passageways, and those areas used for admission,
counseling, sleeping, toileting, showering, dining, recreational,
educational, or vocational activities, and health care. The
separation may be accomplished through architectural design. A
person who has been transferred for prosecution in criminal court
under Section 54.02 and is under 18 [17] years of age is considered
a child for the purposes of this subsection.
(h) This section does not apply to a person:
(1) who has been transferred to criminal court for
prosecution under Section 54.02 and is at least 18 [17] years of
age; or
(2) who is at least 18 [17] years of age and who has
been taken into custody after having:
(A) escaped from a juvenile facility operated by
or under contract with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department; or
(B) violated a condition of release under
supervision of the department.
SECTION 4.04. Section 54.02(j), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(j) The juvenile court may waive its exclusive original
jurisdiction and transfer a person to the appropriate district
court or criminal district court for criminal proceedings if:
(1) the person is 19 [18] years of age or older;
(2) the person was:
(A) 10 years of age or older and under 18 [17]
years of age at the time the person is alleged to have committed a
capital felony or an offense under Section 19.02, Penal Code;
(B) 14 years of age or older and under 18 [17]
years of age at the time the person is alleged to have committed an
aggravated controlled substance felony or a felony of the first
degree other than an offense under Section 19.02, Penal Code; or
(C) 15 years of age or older and under 18 [17]
years of age at the time the person is alleged to have committed a
felony of the second or third degree or a state jail felony;
(3) no adjudication concerning the alleged offense has
been made or no adjudication hearing concerning the offense has
been conducted;
(4) the juvenile court finds from a preponderance of
the evidence that:
(A) for a reason beyond the control of the state
it was not practicable to proceed in juvenile court before the 19th
[18th] birthday of the person; or
(B) after due diligence of the state it was not
practicable to proceed in juvenile court before the 19th [18th]
birthday of the person because:
(i) the state did not have probable cause to
proceed in juvenile court and new evidence has been found since the
19th [18th] birthday of the person;
(ii) the person could not be found; or
(iii) a previous transfer order was
reversed by an appellate court or set aside by a district court; and
(5) the juvenile court determines that there is
probable cause to believe that the child before the court committed
the offense alleged.
SECTION 4.05. Section 54.0326(b), Family Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) A juvenile court may defer adjudication proceedings
under Section 54.03 until the child's 19th [18th] birthday and
require a child to participate in a program established under
Section 152.0017, Human Resources Code, if the child:
(1) is alleged to have engaged in delinquent conduct
or conduct indicating a need for supervision and may be a victim of
conduct that constitutes an offense under Section 20A.02, Penal
Code; and
(2) presents to the court an oral or written request to
participate in the program.
SECTION 4.06. Sections 54.04(e), (l), and (q), Family Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(e) The Texas Juvenile Justice Department shall accept a
person properly committed to it by a juvenile court even though the
person may be 18 [17] years of age or older at the time of
commitment.
(l) Except as provided by Subsection (q), a court or jury
may place a child on probation under Subsection (d)(1) for any
period, except that probation may not continue on or after the
child's 19th [18th] birthday. Except as provided by Subsection
(q), the court may, before the period of probation ends, extend the
probation for any period, except that the probation may not extend
to or after the child's 19th [18th] birthday.
(q) If a court or jury sentences a child to commitment in the
Texas Juvenile Justice Department or a post-adjudication secure
correctional facility under Subsection (d)(3) for a term of not
more than 10 years, the court or jury may place the child on
probation under Subsection (d)(1) as an alternative to making the
disposition under Subsection (d)(3). The court shall prescribe
the period of probation ordered under this subsection for a term of
not more than 10 years. The court may, before the sentence of
probation expires, extend the probationary period under Section
54.05, except that the sentence of probation and any extension may
not exceed 10 years. The court may, before the child's 20th [19th]
birthday, discharge the child from the sentence of probation. If a
sentence of probation ordered under this subsection and any
extension of probation ordered under Section 54.05 will continue
after the child's 20th [19th] birthday, the court shall discharge
the child from the sentence of probation on the child's 20th [19th]
birthday unless the court transfers the child to an appropriate
district court under Section 54.051.
SECTION 4.07. Section 54.0405(i), Family Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(i) A court that requires as a condition of probation that a
child attend psychological counseling under Subsection (a) may,
before the date the probation period ends, extend the probation for
any additional period necessary to complete the required counseling
as determined by the treatment provider, except that the probation
may not be extended to a date after the date of the child's 19th
[18th] birthday, or 20th [19th] birthday if the child is placed on
determinate sentence probation under Section 54.04(q).
SECTION 4.08. Sections 54.041(b) and (h), Family Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(b) If a child is found to have engaged in delinquent
conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision arising from
the commission of an offense in which property damage or loss or
personal injury occurred, the juvenile court, on notice to all
persons affected and on hearing, may order the child or a parent to
make full or partial restitution to the victim of the offense. The
program of restitution must promote the rehabilitation of the
child, be appropriate to the age and physical, emotional, and
mental abilities of the child, and not conflict with the child's
schooling. When practicable and subject to court supervision, the
court may approve a restitution program based on a settlement
between the child and the victim of the offense. An order under
this subsection may provide for periodic payments by the child or a
parent of the child for the period specified in the order but except
as provided by Subsection (h), that period may not extend past the
date of the 19th [18th] birthday of the child or past the date the
child is no longer enrolled in an accredited secondary school in a
program leading toward a high school diploma, whichever date is
later.
(h) If the juvenile court places the child on probation in a
determinate sentence proceeding initiated under Section 53.045 and
transfers supervision on the child's 20th [19th] birthday to a
district court for placement on community supervision, the district
court shall require the payment of any unpaid restitution as a
condition of the community supervision. The liability of the
child's parent for restitution may not be extended by transfer to a
district court for supervision.
SECTION 4.09. Sections 54.05(a) and (b), Family Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) Any [Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), any]
disposition, except a commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice
Department, may be modified by the juvenile court as provided in
this section until:
(1) the child reaches:
(A) the child's 19th [18th] birthday; or
(B) the child's 20th [19th] birthday, if the
child was placed on determinate sentence probation under Section
54.04(q); or
(2) the child is earlier discharged by the court or
operation of law.
(b) Except for a commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice
Department or to a post-adjudication secure correctional facility
under former Section 54.04011 or a placement on determinate
sentence probation under Section 54.04(q), all dispositions
automatically terminate when the child reaches the child's 19th
[18th] birthday.
SECTION 4.10. Section 54.051, Family Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (e-2), and (i) and adding
Subsection (j) to read as follows:
(a) On motion of the state concerning a child who is placed
on probation under Section 54.04(q) for a period, including any
extension ordered under Section 54.05, that will continue after the
child's applicable [19th] birthday, the juvenile court shall hold a
hearing to determine whether to transfer the child to an
appropriate district court or discharge the child from the sentence
of probation.
(b) The hearing must be conducted before the person's
applicable [19th] birthday[, or before the person's 18th birthday
if the offense for which the person was placed on probation occurred
before September 1, 2011,] and must be conducted in the same manner
as a hearing to modify disposition under Section 54.05.
(c) If, after a hearing, the court determines to discharge
the child, the court shall specify a date on or before the child's
applicable [19th] birthday to discharge the child from the
sentence of probation.
(d) If, after a hearing, the court determines to transfer
the child, the court shall transfer the child to an appropriate
district court on the child's applicable [19th] birthday.
(e-2) If a person who is placed on community supervision
under this section violates a condition of that supervision or if
the person violated a condition of probation ordered under Section
54.04(q) and that probation violation was not discovered by the
state before the person's 20th [19th] birthday, the district court
shall dispose of the violation of community supervision or
probation, as appropriate, in the same manner as if the court had
originally exercised jurisdiction over the case. If the judge
revokes community supervision, the judge may reduce the prison
sentence to any length without regard to the minimum term imposed by
Article 42A.755(a), Code of Criminal Procedure.
(i) If the juvenile court exercises jurisdiction over a
person on or after the person's [who is 18 or 19 years of age or
older, as] applicable birthday, under Section 51.041 or 51.0412,
the court or jury may, if the person is otherwise eligible, place
the person on probation under Section 54.04(q). The juvenile court
shall set the conditions of probation and immediately transfer
supervision of the person to the appropriate court exercising
criminal jurisdiction under Subsection (e).
(j) In this section, "applicable birthday" means the
person's:
(1) 18th birthday, if the conduct for which the person
was placed on probation occurred before September 1, 2011;
(2) 19th birthday, if the conduct for which the person
was placed on probation occurred on or after September 1, 2011, but
before September 1, 2019; or
(3) 20th birthday, if the conduct for which the person
was placed on probation occurred on or after September 1, 2019.
SECTION 4.11. Section 54.11(l), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(l) Pending the conclusion of a transfer hearing, the
juvenile court shall order that the person who is referred for
transfer be detained in a certified juvenile detention facility as
provided by Subsection (m). If the person is at least 18 [17] years
of age, the juvenile court may order that the person be detained
without bond in an appropriate county facility for the detention of
adults accused of criminal offenses.
SECTION 4.12. Section 55.15, Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 55.15. STANDARDS OF CARE; EXPIRATION OF COURT ORDER
FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. If the juvenile court or a court to
which the child's case is referred under Section 55.12(2) orders
mental health services for the child, the child shall be cared for,
treated, and released in conformity to Subtitle C, Title 7, Health
and Safety Code, except:
(1) a court order for mental health services for a
child automatically expires on the 120th day after the date the
child becomes 19 [18] years of age; and
(2) the administrator of a mental health facility
shall notify, in writing, by certified mail, return receipt
requested, the juvenile court that ordered mental health services
or the juvenile court that referred the case to a court that ordered
the mental health services of the intent to discharge the child at
least 10 days prior to discharge.
SECTION 4.13. Section 55.18, Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 55.18. DISCHARGE FROM MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY BEFORE
REACHING 19 [18] YEARS OF AGE. If the child is discharged from the
mental health facility before reaching 19 [18] years of age, the
juvenile court may:
(1) dismiss the juvenile court proceedings with
prejudice; or
(2) continue with proceedings under this title as
though no order of mental health services had been made.
SECTION 4.14. The heading to Section 55.19, Family Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 55.19. TRANSFER TO CRIMINAL COURT ON 19TH [18TH]
BIRTHDAY.
SECTION 4.15. Section 55.19(a), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The juvenile court shall transfer all pending
proceedings from the juvenile court to a criminal court on the 19th
[18th] birthday of a child for whom the juvenile court or a court to
which the child's case is referred under Section 55.12(2) has
ordered inpatient mental health services if:
(1) the child is not discharged or furloughed from the
inpatient mental health facility before reaching 19 [18] years of
age; and
(2) the child is alleged to have engaged in delinquent
conduct that included a violation of a penal law listed in Section
53.045 and no adjudication concerning the alleged conduct has been
made.
SECTION 4.16. Section 55.43(a), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The prosecuting attorney may file with the juvenile
court a motion for a restoration hearing concerning a child if:
(1) the child is found unfit to proceed as a result of
mental illness or an intellectual disability; and
(2) the child:
(A) is not:
(i) ordered by a court to receive inpatient
mental health services;
(ii) committed by a court to a residential
care facility; or
(iii) ordered by a court to receive
treatment on an outpatient basis; or
(B) is discharged or currently on furlough from a
mental health facility or outpatient center before the child
reaches 19 [18] years of age.
SECTION 4.17. The heading to Section 55.44, Family Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 55.44. TRANSFER TO CRIMINAL COURT ON 19TH [18TH]
BIRTHDAY OF CHILD.
SECTION 4.18. Section 55.44(a), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The juvenile court shall transfer all pending
proceedings from the juvenile court to a criminal court on the 19th
[18th] birthday of a child for whom the juvenile court or a court to
which the child's case is referred has ordered inpatient mental
health services or residential care for persons with an
intellectual disability if:
(1) the child is not discharged or currently on
furlough from the facility before reaching 19 [18] years of age; and
(2) the child is alleged to have engaged in delinquent
conduct that included a violation of a penal law listed in Section
53.045 and no adjudication concerning the alleged conduct has been
made.
SECTION 4.19. Section 58.0052(a)(3), Family Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(3) "Multi-system youth" means a person who:
(A) is younger than 20 [19] years of age; and
(B) has received services from two or more
juvenile service providers.
SECTION 4.20. Section 58.253(b), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) A person who was referred to a juvenile probation
department for delinquent conduct is entitled to have all records
related to the person's juvenile matters, including records
relating to any matters involving conduct indicating a need for
supervision, sealed without applying to the juvenile court if the
person:
(1) is at least 20 [19] years of age;
(2) has not been adjudicated as having engaged in
delinquent conduct or, if adjudicated for delinquent conduct, was
not adjudicated for delinquent conduct violating a penal law of the
grade of felony;
(3) does not have any pending delinquent conduct
matters;
(4) has not been transferred by a juvenile court to a
criminal court for prosecution under Section 54.02;
(5) has not as an adult been convicted of a felony or a
misdemeanor punishable by confinement in jail; and
(6) does not have any pending charges as an adult for a
felony or a misdemeanor punishable by confinement in jail.
SECTION 4.21. Section 58.255(a), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) A person who was referred to a juvenile probation
department for conduct indicating a need for supervision is
entitled to have all records related to all conduct indicating a
need for supervision matters sealed without applying to the
juvenile court if the person:
(1) is at least 19 [18] years of age;
(2) has not been referred to the juvenile probation
department for delinquent conduct;
(3) has not as an adult been convicted of a felony; and
(4) does not have any pending charges as an adult for a
felony or a misdemeanor punishable by confinement in jail.
SECTION 4.22. Section 58.256(c), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), the juvenile court
may order the sealing of records related to all matters for which
the person was referred to the juvenile probation department if the
person:
(1) is at least 19 [18] years of age, or is younger
than 19 [18] years of age and at least two years have elapsed after
the date of final discharge in each matter for which the person was
referred to the juvenile probation department;
(2) does not have any delinquent conduct matters
pending with any juvenile probation department or juvenile court;
(3) was not transferred by a juvenile court to a
criminal court for prosecution under Section 54.02;
(4) has not as an adult been convicted of a felony; and
(5) does not have any pending charges as an adult for a
felony or a misdemeanor punishable by confinement in jail.
SECTION 4.23. Section 58.264(b), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) The records related to a person referred to a juvenile
probation department may be destroyed if the person:
(1) is at least 19 [18] years of age, and:
(A) the most serious conduct for which the person
was referred was conduct indicating a need for supervision, whether
or not the person was adjudicated; or
(B) the referral or information did not relate to
conduct indicating a need for supervision or delinquent conduct and
the juvenile probation department, prosecutor, or juvenile court
did not take action on the referral or information for that reason;
(2) is at least 21 years of age, and:
(A) the most serious conduct for which the person
was adjudicated was delinquent conduct that violated a penal law of
the grade of misdemeanor; or
(B) the most serious conduct for which the person
was referred was delinquent conduct and the person was not
adjudicated as having engaged in the conduct; or
(3) is at least 31 years of age and the most serious
conduct for which the person was adjudicated was delinquent conduct
that violated a penal law of the grade of felony.
SECTION 4.24. Section 59.005(b), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) The juvenile court or the probation department shall
discharge the child from the custody of the probation department on
the date the provisions of this section are met or on the child's
19th [18th] birthday, whichever is earlier.
SECTION 4.25. Section 59.006(b), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) The juvenile court shall discharge the child from the
custody of the probation department on the date the provisions of
this section are met or on the child's 19th [18th] birthday,
whichever is earlier.
SECTION 4.26. Section 59.007(b), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) The juvenile court shall discharge the child from the
custody of the probation department on the date the provisions of
this section are met or on the child's 19th [18th] birthday,
whichever is earlier.
SECTION 4.27. Section 59.008(b), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) The juvenile court shall discharge the child from the
custody of the probation department on the date the provisions of
this section are met or on the child's 19th [18th] birthday,
whichever is earlier.
SECTION 4.28. Section 59.009(c), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) The Texas Juvenile Justice Department, juvenile board,
or local juvenile probation department may discharge the child from
the custody of the department, board, or probation department, as
applicable, on the date the provisions of this section are met or on
the child's 20th [19th] birthday, whichever is earlier.
SECTION 4.29. Section 61.051(c), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) The juvenile court retains jurisdiction to enter a
contempt order if the motion for enforcement is filed not later than
six months after the child's 19th [18th] birthday.
SECTION 4.30. Section 614.019(b), Health and Safety Code,
is amended to read as follows:
(b) A child with mental illness who is receiving continuity
of care services during parole from the Texas Juvenile Justice
Department and who is no longer eligible to receive services from a
local mental health authority when the child becomes 18 [17] years
of age because the child does not meet the requirements of a local
service area plan under Section 533.0352(a) may continue to receive
continuity of care services from the office until the child
completes the child's parole.
SECTION 4.31. Section 63.001(1), Human Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(1) "Juvenile" means a person from the age of 10 to 19
[18] years who:
(A) has been found to have engaged in delinquent
conduct by a juvenile court; and
(B) is under the jurisdiction of the juvenile
court [of competent jurisdiction].
SECTION 4.32. Section 152.0015, Human Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 152.0015. PRETRIAL DETENTION POLICY FOR CERTAIN
JUVENILES. A juvenile board shall establish a policy that
specifies whether a person who has been transferred for criminal
prosecution under Section 54.02, Family Code, and is younger than
18 [17] years of age may be detained in a juvenile facility pending
trial as provided by Section 51.12, Family Code.
SECTION 4.33. Section 201.001(a)(2), Human Resources Code,
is amended to read as follows:
(2) "Child" means an individual[:
[(A)] 10 years of age or older and younger than 20
[18] years of age who is under the jurisdiction of a juvenile
court[; or
[(B) 10 years of age or older and younger than 19
years of age who is committed to the department under Title 3,
Family Code].
SECTION 4.34. Section 243.001(a), Human Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The department may not assign a child younger than 16
[15] years of age to the same correctional facility dormitory as a
person who is at least 18 [17] years of age unless the department
determines that the placement is necessary to ensure the safety of
children in the custody of the department. This subsection does not
apply to a dormitory that is used exclusively for short-term
assessment and orientation purposes.
SECTION 4.35. Section 243.051(b), Human Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) A child who is arrested or taken into custody under
Subsection (a) may be detained in any suitable place, including an
adult jail facility if the person is 18 [17] years of age or older,
until the child is returned to the custody of the department or
transported to a department facility.
SECTION 4.36. Section 244.014(a), Human Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) After a child sentenced to commitment under Section
54.04(d)(3), 54.04(m), or 54.05(f), Family Code, becomes 17 [16]
years of age but before the child becomes 20 [19] years of age, the
department may refer the child to the juvenile court that entered
the order of commitment for approval of the child's transfer to the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice for confinement if:
(1) the child has not completed the sentence; and
(2) the child's conduct, regardless of whether the
child was released under supervision under Section 245.051,
indicates that the welfare of the community requires the transfer.
SECTION 4.37. Section 244.015, Human Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 244.015. EVALUATION OF CERTAIN CHILDREN SERVING
DETERMINATE SENTENCES. (a) When a child who is sentenced to
commitment under Section 54.04(d)(3), 54.04(m), or 54.05(f),
Family Code, becomes 19 [18] years of age, the department shall
evaluate whether the child is in need of additional services that
can be completed in the six-month period after the child's 19th
[18th] birthday to prepare the child for release from the custody of
the department or transfer to the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice.
(b) This section does not apply to a child who is released
from the custody of the department or who is transferred to the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice before the child's 19th [18th]
birthday.
SECTION 4.38. Section 245.053(i), Human Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(i) If the department requires as a condition of release
that a child attend psychological counseling under Subsection (a),
the department may, before the date the period of release ends,
petition the appropriate court to request the court to extend the
period of release for an additional period necessary to complete
the required counseling as determined by the treatment provider,
except that the release period may not be extended to a date after
the date of the child's 19th [18th] birthday.
SECTION 4.39. Sections 245.151(d) and (e), Human Resources
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), the department
shall discharge from its custody a person not already discharged on
the person's 20th [19th] birthday.
(e) The department shall transfer a person who has been
sentenced under a determinate sentence to commitment under Section
54.04(d)(3), 54.04(m), or 54.05(f), Family Code, or who has been
returned to the department under Section 54.11(i)(1), Family Code,
to the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on the
person's 20th [19th] birthday, if the person has not already been
discharged or transferred, to serve the remainder of the person's
sentence on parole as provided by Section 508.156, Government Code.
SECTION 4.40. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
this section, the changes in law made by this article apply only to
procedures relating to conduct that occurs on or after September 1,
2019. Procedures relating to conduct that occurred before
September 1, 2019, are governed by the law in effect on the date the
conduct occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
(b) The change in law made by this article to Section
58.0052, Family Code, applies to the sharing of information on or
after September 1, 2019, without regard to whether the information
was compiled before, on, or after that date.
(c) For purposes of this section, conduct occurred before
September 1, 2019, if any element of the conduct occurred before
that date.
ARTICLE 5. MISCELLANEOUS LAWS RELATING TO AGE OF CRIMINAL
RESPONSIBILITY
SECTION 5.01. Section 109.001(5), Business & Commerce Code,
is amended to read as follows:
(5) "Confidential criminal record information of a
child" means information about a person's involvement in the
criminal justice system resulting from conduct that occurred or was
alleged to occur when the person was younger than 18 [17] years of
age that is confidential under Chapter 45, Code of Criminal
Procedure, or other law. The term does not include:
(A) criminal record information of a person
certified to stand trial as an adult for that conduct, as provided
by Section 54.02, Family Code; or
(B) information relating to a traffic offense.
SECTION 5.02. Section 65.251(b), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) 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 and the child has failed to obey an order or has been found in
direct contempt of court on two or more previous occasions, the
truancy court, after providing notice and an opportunity for a
hearing, may refer the child to the juvenile probation department
as a request for truancy intervention, unless the child failed to
obey the truancy court order or was in direct contempt of court
while 18 [17] years of age or older.
SECTION 5.03. Section 79.001(10), Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(10) "Juvenile offense" means conduct committed by a
person while younger than 18 [17] years of age that constitutes:
(A) a misdemeanor punishable by confinement; or
(B) a felony.
SECTION 5.04. Section 511.009(a), Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The commission shall:
(1) adopt reasonable rules and procedures
establishing minimum standards for the construction, equipment,
maintenance, and operation of county jails;
(2) adopt reasonable rules and procedures
establishing minimum standards for the custody, care, and treatment
of prisoners;
(3) adopt reasonable rules establishing minimum
standards for the number of jail supervisory personnel and for
programs and services to meet the needs of prisoners;
(4) adopt reasonable rules and procedures
establishing minimum requirements for programs of rehabilitation,
education, and recreation in county jails;
(5) revise, amend, or change rules and procedures if
necessary;
(6) provide to local government officials
consultation on and technical assistance for county jails;
(7) review and comment on plans for the construction
and major modification or renovation of county jails;
(8) require that the sheriff and commissioners of each
county submit to the commission, on a form prescribed by the
commission, an annual report on the conditions in each county jail
within their jurisdiction, including all information necessary to
determine compliance with state law, commission orders, and the
rules adopted under this chapter;
(9) review the reports submitted under Subdivision (8)
and require commission employees to inspect county jails regularly
to ensure compliance with state law, commission orders, and rules
and procedures adopted under this chapter;
(10) adopt a classification system to assist sheriffs
and judges in determining which defendants are low-risk and
consequently suitable participants in a county jail work release
program under Article 42.034, Code of Criminal Procedure;
(11) adopt rules relating to requirements for
segregation of classes of inmates and to capacities for county
jails;
(12) require that the chief jailer of each municipal
lockup submit to the commission, on a form prescribed by the
commission, an annual report of persons under 18 [17] years of age
securely detained in the lockup, including all information
necessary to determine compliance with state law concerning secure
confinement of children in municipal lockups;
(13) at least annually determine whether each county
jail is in compliance with the rules and procedures adopted under
this chapter;
(14) require that the sheriff and commissioners court
of each county submit to the commission, on a form prescribed by the
commission, an annual report of persons under 18 [17] years of age
securely detained in the county jail, including all information
necessary to determine compliance with state law concerning secure
confinement of children in county jails;
(15) schedule announced and unannounced inspections
of jails under the commission's jurisdiction using the risk
assessment plan established under Section 511.0085 to guide the
inspections process;
(16) adopt a policy for gathering and distributing to
jails under the commission's jurisdiction information regarding:
(A) common issues concerning jail
administration;
(B) examples of successful strategies for
maintaining compliance with state law and the rules, standards, and
procedures of the commission; and
(C) solutions to operational challenges for
jails;
(17) report to the Texas Correctional Office on
Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments on a jail's compliance
with Article 16.22, Code of Criminal Procedure;
(18) adopt reasonable rules and procedures
establishing minimum requirements for jails to:
(A) determine if a prisoner is pregnant; and
(B) ensure that the jail's health services plan
addresses medical and mental health care, including nutritional
requirements, and any special housing or work assignment needs for
persons who are confined in the jail and are known or determined to
be pregnant;
(19) provide guidelines to sheriffs regarding
contracts between a sheriff and another entity for the provision of
food services to or the operation of a commissary in a jail under
the commission's jurisdiction, including specific provisions
regarding conflicts of interest and avoiding the appearance of
impropriety;
(20) adopt reasonable rules and procedures
establishing minimum standards for prisoner visitation that
provide each prisoner at a county jail with a minimum of two
in-person, noncontact visitation periods per week of at least 20
minutes duration each;
(21) require the sheriff of each county to:
(A) investigate and verify the veteran status of
each prisoner by using data made available from the Veterans
Reentry Search Service (VRSS) operated by the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs or a similar service; and
(B) use the data described by Paragraph (A) to
assist prisoners who are veterans in applying for federal benefits
or compensation for which the prisoners may be eligible under a
program administered by the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs;
(22) adopt reasonable rules and procedures regarding
visitation of a prisoner at a county jail by a guardian, as defined
by Section 1002.012, Estates Code, that:
(A) allow visitation by a guardian to the same
extent as the prisoner's next of kin, including placing the
guardian on the prisoner's approved visitors list on the guardian's
request and providing the guardian access to the prisoner during a
facility's standard visitation hours if the prisoner is otherwise
eligible to receive visitors; and
(B) require the guardian to provide the sheriff
with letters of guardianship issued as provided by Section
1106.001, Estates Code, before being allowed to visit the prisoner;
and
(23) adopt reasonable rules and procedures to ensure
the safety of prisoners, including rules and procedures that
require a county jail to:
(A) give prisoners the ability to access a mental
health professional at the jail through a telemental health service
24 hours a day;
(B) give prisoners the ability to access a health
professional at the jail or through a telehealth service 24 hours a
day or, if a health professional is unavailable at the jail or
through a telehealth service, provide for a prisoner to be
transported to access a health professional; and
(C) if funding is available under Section
511.019, install automated electronic sensors or cameras to ensure
accurate and timely in-person checks of cells or groups of cells
confining at-risk individuals.
SECTION 5.05. Section 521.201, Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 521.201. LICENSE INELIGIBILITY IN GENERAL. The
department may not issue any license to a person who:
(1) is under 15 years of age;
(2) is under 18 years of age unless the person complies
with the requirements imposed by Section 521.204;
(3) is shown to be addicted to the use of alcohol, a
controlled substance, or another drug that renders a person
incapable of driving;
(4) holds a driver's license issued by this state or
another state or country that is revoked, canceled, or under
suspension;
(5) has been determined by a judgment of a court to be
totally incapacitated or incapacitated to act as the operator of a
motor vehicle unless the person has, by the date of the license
application, been:
(A) restored to capacity by judicial decree; or
(B) released from a hospital for the mentally
incapacitated on a certificate by the superintendent or
administrator of the hospital that the person has regained
capacity;
(6) the department determines to be afflicted with a
mental or physical disability or disease that prevents the person
from exercising reasonable and ordinary control over a motor
vehicle while operating the vehicle on a highway, except that a
person may not be refused a license because of a physical defect if
common experience shows that the defect does not incapacitate a
person from safely operating a motor vehicle;
(7) has been reported by a court under Section
521.3452 for failure to appear unless the court has filed an
additional report on final disposition of the case; or
(8) has been reported by a court for failure to appear
or default in payment of a fine for a misdemeanor that is not
covered under Subdivision (7) and that is punishable by a fine only,
including a misdemeanor under a municipal ordinance, committed by a
person who was under 18 [17] years of age at the time of the alleged
offense, unless the court has filed an additional report on final
disposition of the case.
SECTION 5.06. Section 65.251(b), Family Code, and Section
521.201, Transportation Code, as amended by this article, apply
only to an offense committed or conduct that occurred on or after
September 1, 2019. An offense committed or conduct that occurred
before September 1, 2019, is governed by the law in effect on the
date the offense was committed or the conduct occurred, and the
former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of
this section, an offense was committed or conduct occurred before
September 1, 2019, if any element of the offense or conduct occurred
before that date.
ARTICLE 6. EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 6.01. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.