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House Bill 144 |
House Author: Raymond |
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Effective: 9-1-13 |
Senate Sponsor: Nelson |
House Bill 144 amends the Family Code to clarify a juvenile court's authority to order a physical and mental examination for a child who is referred to the court or who is alleged by a petition or found to have engaged in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision when the child is initially detained in a pre-adjudication secure detention facility or a post-adjudication secure correctional facility. The bill includes a determination of whether a child suffers from chemical dependency among the components of the examination and requires a probation department to refer to an appropriate and legally authorized agency or provider for evaluation and services a child whose examination indicates there is reason to believe the child suffers from chemical dependency or a child who has been determined to suffer from chemical dependency and who is not currently receiving treatment for chemical dependency while under deferred prosecution supervision or court-ordered probation. The bill requires a probation department to report such a referral to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.