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House Bill 1204 |
House Author: White et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-17 |
Senate Sponsor: West et al. |
House Bill 1204 amends the Family Code and Human Resources Code to require a person who is conducting a preliminary investigation of a child younger than 12 years of age referred to a juvenile court to refer the case, as appropriate, to a community resource coordination group, a local-level interagency staffing group, or other community juvenile service provider for services provided to the child and the child's family if the person makes certain determinations about the child's conduct, eligibility for deferred prosecution, and potential benefit from receiving services. The bill requires such a group or provider, on receipt of such a referral, to evaluate the child's case and make service recommendations to the applicable juvenile probation department.
House Bill 1204 requires the probation officer to create and coordinate a service plan or system of care for the child or the child's family that incorporates those service recommendations, limits the amount of time a probation officer may hold open the case of a child who receives such a service plan or system of care, and authorizes the probation officer to adjust the plan or system as necessary during the monitoring period and to refer the child to the prosecuting attorney if the child fails to successfully participate in required services during that period. The bill requires a juvenile board to establish policies that prioritize the diversion of children younger than 12 years of age from referral to a prosecuting attorney under the juvenile justice code and the limitation of detention of children younger than 12 years of age to circumstances of last resort.