BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 932

By: Johnson, Jarvis

Juvenile Justice & Family Issues

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that the conditions that force a child into foster care can also lead to the child's involvement with the juvenile justice system, but express concern about insufficient sharing of information between the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) and the child welfare system. H.B. 932 seeks to provide for the collection of information concerning the number of juvenile offenders committed to TJJD who have been in foster care.

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. 932 amends the Human Resources Code to require the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD), during the admission process, to determine whether a child committed to TJJD has at any time been in foster care. The bill requires TJJD to record on the child's intake form whether the child is currently in foster care and, if applicable, the number of times the child has previously been placed in foster care. The bill requires TJJD not later than January 31 of each even-numbered year to submit a report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing committee having primary jurisdiction over TJJD. The bill requires the report to summarize statistical information concerning the total number and percentage of children in TJJD custody during the preceding two years who have at any time been in foster care.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.