BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 957

By: Birdwell

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Certain youth who have been psychiatrically diagnosed as emotionally or behaviorally disturbed are eligible to be admitted to the Waco Center for Youth for treatment. The term used in current law to describe this process, "committed," is considered by some to have a negative connotation.  S.B. 957 seeks to clarify this terminology so that such youth are not negatively labeled.

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

S.B. 957 amends a Health and Safety Code provision relating to the admission of certain juveniles to the Waco Center for Youth to specify juveniles who are admitted, rather than committed, to the facility.  The bill specifies that this change in terminology is a clarification of  existing law and does not imply that the former law may be construed as inconsistent with the law as amended by the bill.  The bill makes a nonsubstantive change to update an agency name.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.