HBA-CBW H.B. 1498 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1498
By: Farabee
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
3/5/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, a large number of youth who enter the juvenile justice system
suffer from mental illness, but many fail to receive the treatment they
need. This lack of treatment may arise from the fact that there is no
formal linkage between local mental health or mental retardation
authorities and juvenile justice authorities.  A more defined role for
local mental health or mental retardation authorities may provide the much
needed support that the juvenile justice system needs with juveniles who
have a mental illness or who are mentally retarded. House Bill 1498 allows
a local mental health or mental retardation authority to conduct an
examination for mental illness or mental retardation on a child referred by
the court. 

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 1498 amends the Family Code to authorize the juvenile court to
order an examination of certain children who are referred to the court by
the local mental health or mental retardation authority. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.