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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to judicial instruction for judges who hear complaints |
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against children alleging violations of certain misdemeanor |
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offenses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 22, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 22.1105 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 22.1105. JUDICIAL INSTRUCTION RELATED TO CERTAIN |
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ALLEGED CHILD OFFENDERS. (a) Each judge of a court with |
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jurisdiction to hear a complaint against a child alleging a |
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violation of a misdemeanor offense punishable by fine only, other |
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than a traffic offense or public intoxication or a violation of a |
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penal ordinance of a political subdivision other than a traffic |
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offense, shall annually complete a course of instruction related to |
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understanding the problems of child welfare and the Individuals |
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with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq.). |
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(b) The court of criminal appeals shall adopt the rules |
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necessary to provide for the training required under Subsection |
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(a). The rules must require a judge described by Subsection (a) to |
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annually complete two to four hours of the required training. |
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(c) In adopting the rules, the court of criminal appeals may |
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consult with the supreme court and with professional groups and |
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associations in this state that have expertise in the subject |
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matter to obtain the recommendations of those groups or |
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associations for instructional content. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 1, 2009, the Texas |
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Court of Criminal Appeals shall adopt the rules necessary to |
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provide the training required under Section 22.1105, Government |
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Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 22.1105, Government Code, as |
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added by this Act, a judge who is in office on the effective date of |
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this Act is not required to complete the judicial training required |
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by Section 22.1105 before January 1, 2010. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |