Honorable Harold V. Dutton, Jr., Chair, House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB173 by Raymond (Relating to a physical and mental examination of a child subject to the juvenile justice system.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The Family Code, Section 51.20 provides that a juvenile court may order a youth to be examined by a disinterested expert, including a physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist qualified by education and clinical training in mental health or mental retardation and experienced in forensic evaluation, to determine whether the child has a mental illness or is a person with mental retardation. The bill amends the Family Code by adding chemical dependency evaluations for youth who are initially detained in facilities operated by the Youth Commission (TYC), pre-adjudication secure detention facilities, and post-adjudication secure correctional facilities.
The Juvenile Probation Commission anticipates no significant fiscal impact if this bill is implemented as juvenile courts can already order chemical dependency evaluations for youth initially detained in the juvenile system. TYC reports no significant fiscal implications from the bill as juvenile courts do not maintain jurisdiction over youth committed to TYC and TYC facilities are not used for initial detainment of youth.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.