By Armbrister S.B. No. 1385
77R6242 DAK-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the examination of children under the jurisdiction of
1-3 the juvenile court for possible mental illness or mental
1-4 retardation.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Section 51.20(a), Family Code, is amended to read
1-7 as follows:
1-8 (a) At any stage of the proceedings under this title, the
1-9 juvenile court may order a child who is referred to the juvenile
1-10 court or who is alleged by a petition or found to have engaged in
1-11 delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision to
1-12 be examined by the local mental health or mental retardation
1-13 authority or another [an] appropriate expert, including a
1-14 physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist.
1-15 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect immediately if it
1-16 receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
1-17 house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
1-18 If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
1-19 effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-20 (b) This Act applies to an examination of a child under the
1-21 jurisdiction of the juvenile court as provided by Section 51.20,
1-22 Family Code, as amended by this Act, that takes place on or after
1-23 the effective date of this Act, without regard to whether the child
1-24 was first placed under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court
2-1 before, on, or after that date.