BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1897 By: Puente 03-23-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND This bill relates to the composition and function of the juvenile board that currently exists in Bexar County. Presently the boards function is regarded as ineffective due to its inability to meet regularly and establish a quorum. PURPOSE Bexar County seeks to create a board similar to the board created in Dallas county. Since its creation, The Dallas board has had a positive impact on juvenile issues. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS Section 1: 152.0211 of the Human Resource code, relating t the composition of the board, is amended to read as follows: (A). The Juvenile Board of Bexar county shall be composed of; the county judge; one county commissioner appointed by the commissioners' court; each juvenile court judge; a local administrative district judge; one judge of a district court in Bexar county that gives preference to criminal matters and appointed by the judges of those courts; one judge of a district court in Bexar county from a court that gives preference to civil matters and appointed by the judges of those courts; and the chairman of the Juvenile Board advisory council created under Section 152.0010. (B). The appointed members serve one year terms. (C). This board will hold an annual meeting in January and at this time shall elect a chairman from among the members. It will also designate other meeting times. The chairman may also call a meeting two members may call a meeting. Also, accurate and complete minutes must be kept and be made open to the public. (D). All county facilities and programs for the children, other than the facilities and programs operated by the Bexar County Hospital District or the local mental health or mental retardation authority serving Bexar County, are under the board's jurisdiction. (E). The Juvenile Board shall set policies for the juvenile probation department and other departments, facilities, and programs under the board's jurisdiction. (F). The Juvenile Board may make an annual report to the commissioners' court that relates to the operation and efficiency of the juvenile probation department, the county and other institutions for the care of neglected, dependent, and delinquent children, and the other facilities a programs under the board's jurisdiction and to the general adequacy of the juvenile services provided by the county. It may also include recommendations for improvements the board considers necessary. (G). The Juvenile Board may submit a budget of expenditures of county funds the commissioners' court. The Juvenile Board may not make an expenditure of county funds unless it is approved by the commissioners' court. (H). The Juvenile Board may investigate the operations of the juvenile probation department, the county institutions for the care of the neglected, dependent, or delinquent children, or any other facility or program under the board jurisdiction at the request of the judges of the district courts in Bexar County. The Board shall make a written report of the investigation to the commissioners' court. (I). The Juvenile Board may make any special studies or investigations it considers necessary to improve the operation of the juvenile probation department and the county institutions under its jurisdiction and shall provide a written report of its findings to the commissioners' court. (J). The Juvenile Board, with approval from the commissioners' court, may appoint a person as chief juvenile probation officer. The Board, with approval from the commissioners court, may set the salary of the chief probation officer. The chief probation officer serves at the pleasure of the Board. (K). The Juvenile Board may apply for, accept, hold in trust, spend, and use a gift, grant, or donation of land, money, or other personal property from a governmental, corporate, personal, or other source to benefit the county facilities and programs under the board's jurisdiction. (L). Sections 152.0002, 152.0003, 152.0004, 152.0005, 152.0006, 152.0007, and 152.0008 of the Human Resource Code do not apply to the Juvenile Board of Bexar County. SECTION 2: This act takes effect September 1, 1995 SECTION 3: Emergency Clause SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION HB 1897 was considered by the Committee in a public hearing on 22 March 1995. The following person testified against the bill: Homero Lucero, Adams & Zottarelli on behalf of Bexar County. The bill was reported favorably without amendment with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed and be sent to the Local and Consent Calendar by a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, and 2 absent.