AN ACT

 1-1     relating to juvenile court detention orders.

 1-2           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-3           SECTION 1.  Subsection (h), Section 54.01, Family Code, is

 1-4     amended to read as follows:

 1-5           (h)  A detention order extends to the conclusion of the

 1-6     disposition hearing, if there is one, but in no event for more than

 1-7     10 working days.  Further detention orders may be made following

 1-8     subsequent detention hearings.  The initial detention hearing may

 1-9     not be waived but subsequent detention hearings may be waived in

1-10     accordance with the requirements of Section 51.09 [of this code].

1-11     Each subsequent detention order shall extend for no more than 10

1-12     working days, except that in a county that does not have a

1-13     certified juvenile detention facility, as described by Section

1-14     51.12(a)(3), each subsequent detention order shall extend for no

1-15     more than 15 working days.

1-16           SECTION 2.  (a)  The change in law made by this Act applies

1-17     only to a child who is taken into custody for conduct that occurs

1-18     on or after the effective date of this Act.  Conduct violating a

1-19     penal law of this state occurs on or after the effective date of

1-20     this Act if every element of the violation occurs on or after that

1-21     date.

1-22           (b)  Conduct that occurs before the effective date of this

1-23     Act is covered by the law in effect at the time the conduct

 2-1     occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that

 2-2     purpose.

 2-3           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

 2-4           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-5     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-6     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-7     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-8     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 298 passed the Senate on

         April 4, 1997, by a viva-voce vote; and that the Senate concurred

         in House amendment on May 24, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 298 passed the House, with

         amendment, on May 20, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

         Approved:

         _______________________________

                     Date

         _______________________________

                   Governor