SECTION 1. TASK FORCE ON
IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR JUVENILES ADJUDICATED OF SEXUAL OFFENSES. (a) In
this Act:
(1) "Juvenile sex
offender" means a person subject to the jurisdiction of a juvenile
court for conduct that constitutes an offense for which registration as a
sex offender is required under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(2) "Task force"
means the Task Force on Improving Outcomes for Juveniles Adjudicated of
Sexual Offenses.
(b) The Task Force on
Improving Outcomes for Juveniles Adjudicated of Sexual Offenses is
established. The purpose of the task force is to make policy
recommendations to improve the outcomes for juvenile sex offenders after
studying:
(1) the adjudication and
disposition processes and programs for juvenile sex offenders;
(2) counseling, mental
health, or other services provided by the state or local juvenile probation
departments to juvenile sex offenders;
(3) the sex offender
registration process for juveniles; and
(4) any other issue related
to improving the outcomes for juvenile sex offenders.
(c) The task force is
composed of the following members:
(1) the executive director
of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department or the executive director's
designee;
(2) the commissioner of the
Department of Family and Protective Services or the commissioner's
designee;
(3) one representative
designated by the Crime Records Service of the Department of Public Safety
who has experience with the department's sex offender registry;
(4) one representative
designated by the Council on Sex Offender Treatment;
(5) one representative
designated by Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas;
(6) one representative
designated by the Texas Association for the Protection of Children;
(7) one representative
designated by Texans Care for Children;
(8) one private provider of
juvenile sex offender treatment from a rural county and one private provider
of juvenile sex offender treatment from an urban county, appointed by the
governor;
(9) one judge from a rural
county and one judge from an urban county, appointed by the governor;
(10) one law enforcement
official from a rural county and one law enforcement official from an urban
county, appointed by the governor;
(11) one prosecutor from a
rural county and one prosecutor from an urban county, appointed by the
governor;
(12) one juvenile probation
officer from a rural county and one juvenile probation officer from an
urban county, appointed by the governor; and
(13) one juvenile public
defender from a rural county and one juvenile public defender from an urban
county, appointed by the governor.
(d) The governor shall
designate a member of the task force to serve as presiding officer.
(e) The presiding officer
may designate additional experts to serve as advisors to the task force.
(f) A person designated to
make an appointment of a member of the task force shall make the
appointment not later than the 60th day after the effective date of this
Act. The designated person shall fill a vacancy in the task force or a
vacancy in the position of presiding officer of the task force by the
appointment of another person with the same qualifications as the original
appointee.
(g) The presiding officer
shall call the initial meeting of the task force on or before December 1,
2015. The task force shall meet at the times and places that the presiding
officer determines are appropriate.
(h) A member of the task
force is not entitled to compensation but may receive reimbursement for the
member's actual and necessary expenses incurred in attending meetings of
the task force and performing other official duties authorized by the
presiding officer of the task force, if funding is available.
(i) The task force may
request meeting facilities, data, clerical assistance, and other assistance
from any department, agency, institution, office, or political subdivision
of this state.
(j) The task force may
consult with any relevant experts and stakeholders, including:
(1) juvenile sex offenders;
(2) family members of
juvenile sex offenders;
(3) mental health experts;
(4) public school district
administrators; and
(5) higher education
administrators.
(k) State funds may not be
appropriated for purposes of the task force. The task force may apply for,
receive, and accept grants of funds or other contributions as appropriate
to assist in the performance of its duties. The task force may contract
for consultants or technical assistance.
(l) The task force is not
subject to Chapter 2110, Government Code.
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SECTION 1. TASK FORCE ON
IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR JUVENILES ADJUDICATED OF SEXUAL OFFENSES. (a) In
this Act:
(1) "Juvenile sex
offender" means a person subject to the jurisdiction of a juvenile
court for conduct that constitutes an offense for which registration as a
sex offender is required under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(2) "Task force"
means the Task Force on Improving Outcomes for Juveniles Adjudicated of
Sexual Offenses.
(b) The Task Force on
Improving Outcomes for Juveniles Adjudicated of Sexual Offenses is
established. The purpose of the task force is to make policy
recommendations to improve the outcomes for juvenile sex offenders after studying:
(1) the adjudication and
disposition processes and programs for juvenile sex offenders;
(2) counseling, mental
health, or other services provided by the state or local juvenile probation
departments to juvenile sex offenders;
(3) the sex offender
registration process for juveniles; and
(4) any other issue related
to improving the outcomes for juvenile sex offenders.
(c) The task force is
composed of the following members:
(1) the executive director
of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department or the executive director's
designee;
(2) the commissioner of the
Department of Family and Protective Services or the commissioner's
designee;
(3) one representative
designated by the Crime Records Service of the Department of Public Safety
who has experience with the department's sex offender registry;
(4) one representative
designated by the Council on Sex Offender Treatment;
(5) one representative
designated by Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas;
(6) one representative
designated by the Texas Association for the Protection of Children;
(7) one representative
designated by Texans Care for Children;
(8) one private provider of
juvenile sex offender treatment from a rural county and one private
provider of juvenile sex offender treatment from an urban county, appointed
by the governor;
(9) one judge from a rural
county and one judge from an urban county, appointed by the governor;
(10) one law enforcement
official from a rural county and one law enforcement official from an urban
county, appointed by the governor;
(11) one prosecutor from a
rural county and one prosecutor from an urban county, appointed by the
governor;
(12) one juvenile probation
officer from a rural county and one juvenile probation officer from an
urban county, appointed by the governor;
(13) one juvenile public
defender from a rural county and one juvenile public defender from an urban
county, appointed by the governor; and
(14)
one academic researcher from an accredited university who specializes in
juvenile justice, appointed by the governor.
(d) The governor shall
designate a member of the task force to serve as presiding officer.
(e) The presiding officer
may designate additional experts to serve as advisors to the task force.
(f) A person designated to
make an appointment of a member of the task force shall make the
appointment not later than the 60th day after the effective date of this
Act. The designated person shall fill a vacancy in the task force or a
vacancy in the position of presiding officer of the task force by the
appointment of another person with the same qualifications as the original
appointee.
(g) The presiding officer
shall call the initial meeting of the task force on or before December 1,
2015. The task force shall meet at the times and places that the presiding
officer determines are appropriate.
(h) A member of the task
force is not entitled to compensation but may receive reimbursement for the
member's actual and necessary expenses incurred in attending meetings of
the task force and performing other official duties authorized by the
presiding officer of the task force, if funding is available.
(i) The task force may
request meeting facilities, data, clerical assistance, and other assistance
from any department, agency, institution, office, or political subdivision
of this state.
(j) The task force may
consult with any relevant experts and stakeholders, including:
(1) juvenile sex offenders;
(2) family members of
juvenile sex offenders;
(3) mental health experts;
(4) public school district
administrators; and
(5) higher education
administrators.
(k) State funds may not be
appropriated for purposes of the task force. The task force may apply for,
receive, and accept grants of funds or other contributions as appropriate
to assist in the performance of its duties. The task force may contract
for consultants or technical assistance.
(l) The task force is not
subject to Chapter 2110, Government Code.
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