HBA-LJP H.B. 822 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 822 By: Giddings Juvenile Justice & Family Issues 6/14/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Prior to the 77th Legislature, a justice or municipal court was authorized to defer proceedings, and a juvenile court was authorized to defer adjudication proceedings, against certain teen defendants for 90 days on successful completion of a teen court program. The teen court program is an alternative system of justice, which offers young offenders an opportunity to make restitution for their offenses. A youth referred to a teen court appears before a jury of peers, consisting of teenage volunteers from local secondary schools. Teen court keeps the offense off of the teen's record. House Bill 822 authorizes a justice or a municipal or juvenile court to defer proceedings or adjudication against such youth for not more than 180 days and increases the time period in which the youth is to complete the teen court program. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 822 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Family Code to increase from 90 to not more than 180, the number of days a justice or a municipal or juvenile court is authorized to defer proceedings or adjudication against a defendant who is under the age of 18 or enrolled full time in an accredited secondary school in a program leading toward a high school diploma. The bill requires the defendant to complete the teen court program not later than the 90th day after the date the teen court hearing to determine punishment is held or the last day of the deferral period, whichever date is earlier. The bill requires the justice or a municipal or juvenile court to dismiss the charge or the case with prejudice at the time the defendant presents satisfactory evidence that the defendant has successfully completed the teen court program. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.