By: Whitmire S.B. No. 670

(In the Senate - Filed February 19, 2013; February 25, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice; April 4, 2013, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; April 4, 2013, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the copying of certain records and files relating to a child who is a party to a juvenile proceeding.

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

SECTION 1. Subsection (b), Section 58.007, Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) Except as provided by Article 15.27, Code of Criminal Procedure, the records and files of a juvenile court, a clerk of court, a juvenile probation department, or a prosecuting attorney relating to a child who is a party to a proceeding under this title may be inspected or copied [are open to inspection] only by:

(1) the judge, probation officers, and professional staff or consultants of the juvenile court;

(2) a juvenile justice agency as that term is defined by Section 58.101;

(3) an attorney for a party to the proceeding;

(4) a public or private agency or institution providing supervision of the child by arrangement of the juvenile court, or having custody of the child under juvenile court order; or

(5) with leave of the juvenile court, any other person, agency, or institution having a legitimate interest in the proceeding or in the work of the court.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

* * * * *