BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 678

By: Wu

Juvenile Justice & Family Issues

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that juvenile court judges would benefit from additional assistance in handing juvenile determinate sentence pleas. H.B. 678 seeks to provide this assistance.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

H.B. 678 amends the Family Code to authorize an associate judge or a referee appointed by a juvenile board to hold a hearing for the purpose of allowing a child subject to a determinate sentence to enter a plea or stipulation of evidence when the state and the child agree to the disposition of the case, wholly or partly. The bill requires the associate judge or referee, after such a hearing, to transmit the associate judge's or referee's written findings and recommendations regarding the plea or stipulation of evidence to the juvenile court judge for consideration. The bill authorizes the juvenile court judge to accept or reject the plea or stipulation of evidence in accordance with statutory provisions relating to a disposition agreement in an adjudication hearing.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.