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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of an educational publication for judicial |
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guidance on cases involving a child who may be eligible for special |
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immigrant juvenile status. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 22, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 22.020 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 22.020. EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATION FOR JUDICIAL GUIDANCE |
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RELATED TO SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS. (a) The Permanent |
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Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families established by |
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the supreme court shall develop a comprehensive, educational |
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publication to provide judicial guidance in determining a court's |
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jurisdiction and presiding over a case that involves a child who may |
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be eligible for special immigrant juvenile status, as defined by 8 |
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U.S.C. Section 1101, and in making findings and issuing orders to |
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assist in determining the child's eligibility for that status. |
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(b) The publication must: |
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(1) include information about: |
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(A) federal law relating to special immigrant |
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juvenile status; |
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(B) existing jurisdiction of courts in this state |
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over cases involving a child who may be eligible for special |
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immigrant juvenile status; |
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(C) definitions of abuse, neglect, and |
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abandonment in Texas law; and |
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(D) findings necessary for a child to be granted |
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special immigrant juvenile status; |
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(2) be compiled into a single document; and |
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(3) be made available in hard copy and electronic |
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formats. |
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(c) The commission shall distribute the publication: |
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(1) electronically to each court in this state with |
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jurisdiction over juvenile cases; |
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(2) in hard copy format at judicial conferences and |
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meetings; and |
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(3) in hard copy format on request. |
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SECTION 2. The Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, |
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Youth and Families shall develop and distribute to each court in |
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this state with jurisdiction over juvenile cases the educational |
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publication required by Section 22.020, Government Code, as added |
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by this Act, not later than September 1, 2016. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |