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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to access to records or files concerning a child who is |
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subject to the juvenile justice system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 58.007, Family Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (b) and (e) and adding Subsection (j) to read |
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as follows: |
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(b) Except as provided by Article 15.27, Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, the records and files, including copies of the records |
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or files, of a juvenile court, a clerk of court, a juvenile |
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probation department, or a prosecuting attorney relating to a child |
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who is a party to a proceeding under this title are open to |
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inspection only by: |
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(1) the judge, probation officers, and professional |
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staff or consultants of the juvenile court; |
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(2) a juvenile justice agency as that term is defined |
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by Section 58.101; |
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(3) an attorney for a party to the proceeding; |
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(4) a public or private agency or institution |
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providing supervision of the child by arrangement of the juvenile |
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court, or having custody of the child under juvenile court order; |
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[or] |
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(5) the child; |
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(6) the child's parent or guardian; or |
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(7) with leave of the juvenile court, any other |
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person, agency, or institution having a legitimate interest in the |
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proceeding or in the work of the court. |
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(e) Law enforcement records and files, including copies of |
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law enforcement records and files, concerning a child may be |
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inspected by a juvenile justice agency as that term is defined by |
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Section 58.101, [and] a criminal justice agency as that term is |
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defined by Section 411.082, Government Code, the child, and the |
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child's parent or guardian. |
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(j) Before a child or a child's parent or guardian may |
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inspect a record or file concerning the child under Subsection (b) |
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or (e), the custodian of the record or file shall redact any |
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reference in the record or file to a juvenile who is not the child. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |