79R1650 SLO-D

By:  Shapleigh                                                    S.B. No. 273



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to referring a child with mental illness to an appropriate 
local mental health authority before completion of probation.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 55, Family Code, is 
amended by adding Section 55.20 to read as follows:
	Sec. 55.20.  REFERRAL OF CHILD ON PROBATION TO MENTAL HEALTH 
AUTHORITY.  A juvenile probation officer shall refer a child who has 
been determined under Section 55.11 to have a mental illness to an 
appropriate local mental health authority at least three months 
before the child is to complete the child's juvenile probation 
term.
	SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only 
to a child who completes the child's juvenile probation term on or 
after December 1, 2005.  A child who completes the child's juvenile 
probation term before December 1, 2005, is governed by the law in 
effect before December 1, 2005, and the former law is continued in 
effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.