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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to contempt of court committed by certain juvenile |
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offenders and the detention of certain juvenile offenders. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Articles 45.050(a) and (c), Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) In this article, "child" has the meaning assigned by |
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Article 45.058(h) and "status offense" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 51.02, Family Code. |
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(c) If a child fails to obey an order of a justice or |
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municipal court under circumstances that would constitute contempt |
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of court, the justice or municipal court, after providing notice |
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and an opportunity to be heard, may: |
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(1) refer the child to the appropriate juvenile court |
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for [delinquent conduct for] contempt of the justice or municipal |
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court order for: |
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(A) delinquent conduct, as defined by Section |
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51.03(a)(2), Family Code, if the order was issued in a case for an |
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offense other than a status offense; or |
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(B) conduct indicating a need for supervision, as |
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defined by Section 51.03(b)(9), Family Code, if the order was |
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issued in a case for a status offense; or |
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(2) retain jurisdiction of the case, hold the child in |
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contempt of the justice or municipal court, and order either or both |
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of the following: |
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(A) that the contemnor pay a fine not to exceed |
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$500; or |
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(B) that the Department of Public Safety suspend |
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the contemnor's driver's license or permit or, if the contemnor does |
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not have a license or permit, to deny the issuance of a license or |
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permit to the contemnor until the contemnor fully complies with the |
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orders of the court. |
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SECTION 2. Article 45.058(f), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(f) A child taken into custody for an offense that a justice |
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or municipal court has jurisdiction of under Article 4.11 or 4.14 |
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may be presented or detained in a detention facility designated by |
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the juvenile court under Section 52.02(a)(3), Family Code, only if: |
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(1) the child's non-traffic case is transferred to the |
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juvenile court by a justice or municipal court under Section |
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51.08(b), Family Code; or |
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(2) the child is referred to the juvenile court by a |
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justice or municipal court for delinquent conduct [contempt of
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court] under Article 45.050(c)(1)(A). |
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SECTION 3. Section 51.02, Family Code, is amended by |
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amending Subdivision (15) and adding Subdivision (15-a) to read as |
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follows: |
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(15) "Status offender" means a child who is accused, |
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adjudicated, or convicted of a status offense. |
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(15-a) "Status offense" means [for] conduct committed |
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by a child that would not, under state law, be a crime if committed |
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by an adult, including: |
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(A) truancy under Section 51.03(b)(2); |
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(B) running away from home under Section |
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51.03(b)(3); |
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(C) a fineable only offense under Section |
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51.03(b)(1) transferred to the juvenile court under Section |
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51.08(b), but only if the conduct constituting the offense would |
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not have been criminal if engaged in by an adult; |
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(D) failure to attend school under Section |
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25.094, Education Code; |
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(E) a violation of standards of student conduct |
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as described by Section 51.03(b)(5); |
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(F) a violation of a juvenile curfew ordinance or |
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order; |
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(G) a violation of a provision of the Alcoholic |
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Beverage Code applicable to minors only; or |
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(H) a violation of any other fineable only |
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offense under Section 8.07(a)(4) or (5), Penal Code, but only if the |
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conduct constituting the offense would not have been criminal if |
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engaged in by an adult. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 51.03(a) and (b), Family Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Delinquent conduct is: |
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(1) conduct, other than a traffic offense, that |
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violates a penal law of this state or of the United States |
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punishable by imprisonment or by confinement in jail; |
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(2) conduct that violates a lawful order of a court, |
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other than the order of a court in a case for a status offense, under |
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circumstances that would constitute contempt of that court in: |
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(A) a justice or municipal court; or |
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(B) a county court for conduct punishable only by |
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a fine; |
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(3) conduct that violates Section 49.04, 49.05, 49.06, |
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49.07, or 49.08, Penal Code; or |
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(4) conduct that violates Section 106.041, Alcoholic |
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Beverage Code, relating to driving under the influence of alcohol |
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by a minor (third or subsequent offense). |
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(b) Conduct indicating a need for supervision is: |
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(1) subject to Subsection (f), conduct, other than a |
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traffic offense, that violates: |
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(A) the penal laws of this state of the grade of |
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misdemeanor that are punishable by fine only; or |
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(B) the penal ordinances of any political |
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subdivision of this state; |
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(2) the absence of a child on 10 or more days or parts |
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of days within a six-month period in the same school year or on |
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three or more days or parts of days within a four-week period from |
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school; |
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(3) the voluntary absence of a child from the child's |
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home without the consent of the child's parent or guardian for a |
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substantial length of time or without intent to return; |
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(4) conduct prohibited by city ordinance or by state |
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law involving the inhalation of the fumes or vapors of paint and |
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other protective coatings or glue and other adhesives and the |
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volatile chemicals itemized in Section 485.001, Health and Safety |
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Code; |
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(5) an act that violates a school district's |
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previously communicated written standards of student conduct for |
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which the child has been expelled under Section 37.007(c), |
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Education Code; |
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(6) conduct that violates a reasonable and lawful |
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order of a court entered under Section 264.305; |
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(7) notwithstanding Subsection (a)(1), conduct |
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described by Section 43.02(a)(1) or (2), Penal Code; [or] |
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(8) notwithstanding Subsection (a)(1), conduct that |
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violates Section 43.261, Penal Code; or |
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(9) conduct that violates a lawful order of a court in |
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a case for a status offense, under circumstances that would |
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constitute contempt of that court in a justice, municipal, or |
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county court. |
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SECTION 5. Section 51.12, Family Code, is amended by adding |
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Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, |
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a child may only be detained in an office or place described by |
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Subsection (a)(1) or (2) or a nonsecure correctional facility that |
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meets the conditions of Subsections (j-1)(1), (3), and (4) if a |
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child is accused only of: |
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(1) a status offense; |
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(2) the violation of a valid court order, as defined by |
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Section 51.02(17); or |
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(3) conduct in need of supervision under Section |
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51.03(b)(9). |
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SECTION 6. Section 52.02(a), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a person taking a |
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child into custody, without unnecessary delay and without first |
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taking the child to any place other than a juvenile processing |
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office designated under Section 52.025, shall do one of the |
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following: |
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(1) release the child to a parent, guardian, custodian |
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of the child, or other responsible adult upon that person's promise |
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to bring the child before the juvenile court as requested by the |
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court; |
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(2) bring the child before the office or official |
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designated by the juvenile board if there is probable cause to |
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believe that the child engaged in delinquent conduct, conduct |
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indicating a need for supervision, or conduct that violates a |
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condition of probation imposed by the juvenile court; |
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(3) bring the child to a detention facility designated |
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by the juvenile board, unless Section 51.12(a-1) applies to the |
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child; |
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(4) bring the child to a secure detention facility as |
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provided by Section 51.12(j), unless Section 51.12(a-1) applies to |
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the child; |
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(5) bring the child to a medical facility if the child |
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is believed to suffer from a serious physical condition or illness |
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that requires prompt treatment; |
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(6) dispose of the case under Section 52.03; [or] |
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(7) if school is in session and the child is a student, |
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bring the child to the school campus to which the child is assigned |
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if the principal, the principal's designee, or a peace officer |
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assigned to the campus agrees to assume responsibility for the |
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child for the remainder of the school day; or |
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(8) if Section 51.12(a-1) applies to the child: |
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(A) bring the child to a place of nonsecure |
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custody in compliance with Articles 45.058(c), (d), and (e), Code |
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of Criminal Procedure; or |
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(B) if a juvenile processing office or place of |
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nonsecure custody is not available, bring the child to a nonsecure |
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correctional facility that meets the conditions of Sections |
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51.12(j-1)(1), (3), and (4). |
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SECTION 7. Section 54.011, Family Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and adding Subsection (a-1) |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) The detention hearing for a [status offender or] |
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nonoffender who has not been released administratively under |
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Section 53.02 shall be held before the 24th hour after the time the |
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child arrived at a detention facility, excluding hours of a weekend |
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or a holiday. Except as otherwise provided by this section, the |
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judge or referee conducting the detention hearing shall release the |
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[status offender or] nonoffender from secure detention. |
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(a-1) If Section 51.12(a-1) applies to a child, the child |
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may not be detained at a place of detention for longer than 24 hours |
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after the time the child arrived at the place of detention. If the |
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child is not released before the sixth hour after the time the child |
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arrived at the place of detention, the child is entitled to a |
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detention hearing that must be held before the 24th hour after the |
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time the child arrived at the place of detention, excluding |
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weekends and holidays. Except as otherwise provided by this |
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section, the judge or referee conducting the detention hearing |
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shall release the child from detention. |
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(b) The judge or referee may order a child in detention |
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accused of the violation of a valid court order as defined by |
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Section 51.02(17) [51.02] detained not longer than 24 [72] hours |
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after the time the detention order was entered, excluding weekends |
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and holidays, if: |
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(1) the judge or referee finds at the detention |
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hearing that there is probable cause to believe the child violated |
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the valid court order; and |
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(2) the detention of the child is justified under |
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Section 54.01(e)(1), (2), or (3). |
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(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a detention order |
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entered under Subsection (b) may be extended for one additional |
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24-hour [72-hour] period, excluding weekends and holidays, only on |
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a finding of good cause by the juvenile court. |
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SECTION 8. Section 54.04(o), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(o) In a disposition under this title,[:
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[(1)] a child [status offender] may not, under any |
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circumstances, be placed in a post-adjudication secure |
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correctional facility or committed to the Texas Juvenile Justice |
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Department only [Youth Commission] for: |
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(1) engaging in conduct that is a status offense |
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[would not, under state or local law, be a crime if committed by an
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adult]; |
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(2) violating a valid court order [a status offender
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may not, under any circumstances other than as provided under
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Subsection (n), be placed in a post-adjudication secure
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correctional facility]; or [and] |
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(3) conduct indicating a need for supervision under |
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Section 51.03(b)(9) [a child adjudicated for contempt of a county,
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justice, or municipal court order may not, under any circumstances,
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be placed in a post-adjudication secure correctional facility or
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committed to the Texas Youth Commission for that conduct]. |
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SECTION 9. Section 59.003(a), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Subject to Subsection (e), after a child's first |
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commission of delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for |
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supervision, the probation department or prosecuting attorney may, |
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or the juvenile court may, in a disposition hearing under Section |
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54.04 or a modification hearing under Section 54.05, assign a child |
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one of the following sanction levels according to the child's |
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conduct: |
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(1) for conduct indicating a need for supervision, |
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other than conduct described in Section 51.03(b)(4), [or] (5), or |
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(9) or a Class A or B misdemeanor, the sanction level is one; |
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(2) for conduct indicating a need for supervision |
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under Section 51.03(b)(4), [or] (5), or (9) or a Class A or B |
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misdemeanor, other than a misdemeanor involving the use or |
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possession of a firearm, or for delinquent conduct under Section |
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51.03(a)(2), the sanction level is two; |
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(3) for a misdemeanor involving the use or possession |
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of a firearm or for a state jail felony or a felony of the third |
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degree, the sanction level is three; |
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(4) for a felony of the second degree, the sanction |
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level is four; |
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(5) for a felony of the first degree, other than a |
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felony involving the use of a deadly weapon or causing serious |
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bodily injury, the sanction level is five; |
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(6) for a felony of the first degree involving the use |
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of a deadly weapon or causing serious bodily injury, for an |
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aggravated controlled substance felony, or for a capital felony, |
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the sanction level is six; or |
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(7) for a felony of the first degree involving the use |
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of a deadly weapon or causing serious bodily injury, for an |
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aggravated controlled substance felony, or for a capital felony, if |
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the petition has been approved by a grand jury under Section 53.045, |
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or if a petition to transfer the child to criminal court has been |
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filed under Section 54.02, the sanction level is seven. |
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SECTION 10. Section 71.0352, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 71.0352. JUVENILE DATE: JUSTICE, MUNICIPAL, AND |
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JUVENILE COURTS. As a component of the official monthly report |
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submitted to the Office of Court Administration of the Texas |
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Judicial System: |
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(1) justice and municipal courts shall report the |
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number of cases filed for the following offenses: |
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(A) failure to attend school under Section |
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25.094, Education Code; |
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(B) parent contributing to nonattendance under |
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Section 25.093, Education Code; and |
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(C) violation of a local daytime curfew ordinance |
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adopted under Section 341.905 or 351.903, Local Government Code; |
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and |
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(2) in cases in which a child fails to obey an order of |
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a justice or municipal court under circumstances that would |
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constitute contempt of court, the justice or municipal court shall |
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report the number of incidents in which the child is: |
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(A) referred to the appropriate juvenile court |
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for delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision |
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as provided by Article 45.050(c)(1), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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and Section 51.03(a)(2) or (b)(9), Family Code; or |
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(B) held in contempt, fined, or denied driving |
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privileges as provided by Article 45.050(c)(2), Code of Criminal |
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Procedure. |
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SECTION 11. Section 54.04(n), Family Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 12. The changes in law made by this Act apply only |
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to conduct violating a penal law that occurs on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. Conduct violating a penal law that |
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occurs before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law |
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in effect when the conduct occurred, and the former law is continued |
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in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, conduct |
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violating a penal law occurred before the effective date of this Act |
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if any element of the violation occurred before that date. |
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SECTION 13. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |