80R2790 YDB-D

By: Dutton H.B. No. 775

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to reports by certain juvenile court judges on children committed to Texas Youth Commission facilities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 58.005(b), Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) This section does not apply to information collected under Section 58.104 or under Subchapter E.

SECTION 2. Chapter 58, Family Code, is amended by adding Subchapter E to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER E. REPORTS ON COUNTY INTERNET WEBSITES

Sec. 58.351. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies only to a county with a population of 600,000 or more.

Sec. 58.352. INFORMATION POSTED ON COUNTY WEBSITE. (a) A juvenile court judge in a county to which this subchapter applies shall post a report on the Internet website of the county in which the court is located. The report must include:

(1) the total number of children committed by the judge to a correctional facility operated by the Texas Youth Commission; and

(2) for each child committed to a facility described by Subdivision (1):

(A) a general description of the offense committed by the child or the conduct of the child that led to the child's commitment to the facility;

(B) the year the child was committed to the facility; and

(C) the age range, race, and gender of the child.

(b) Not later than the 10th day following the first day of each quarter, a juvenile court judge shall update the information posted on a county Internet website under Subsection (a).

Sec. 58.353. CONFIDENTIALITY. A record posted on a county Internet website under this subchapter may not include any information that personally identifies a child.

SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only to a child committed to a correctional facility operated by the Texas Youth Commission on or after January 1, 2008.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.