BILL ANALYSIS
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, the Jim Wells County Juvenile Board is currently composed of one district court judge and one county court judge, which has created numerous problems with regards to establishing a quorum. Not only can the judges not be at the same functions at the same time without being considered a quorum, but if one of the two judges are unable to meet, the juvenile board cannot establish a quorum.
H.B.2502 would increase the mandatory number of members which serve on the Jim Wells County Juvenile Board to a minimum of three members, but no more than five members.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
Amends Section 152.0032 of the Human Resources Code by providing that under Subsection (b), the juvenile board of Jim Wells County be composed of the judges of the county and district courts in the county. The board must have a minimum of three members, but no more than five members.
The district court and county court judges are permitted to appoint public members to serve on the board if necessary to fulfill the requirement. Those who are appointed to serve and who are public members, serve without compensation. The chairman must determine the proper number of public members to be appointed to serve on the Jim Wells County Juvenile Board.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.