Honorable Harold V. Dutton, Jr., Chair, House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2879 by Dutton (Relating to treatment and registration of juveniles adjudicated for a sexual offense.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Family Code to establish new procedures governing sex offender registration for juvenile offenders. In order for a juvenile offender to be registered as a sex offender, the bill would require a prosecutor to request a hearing and a court order requiring the juvenile to register. The prosecutor would be required to meet certain conditions to obtain an order, and the juvenile would have a limited right to appeal. The bill would make information related to juvenile offenders registered as sex offenders restricted to use by certain agencies and groups. The bill would make conforming changes in the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Government Code. The bill would amend the Education Code, the Human Resources Code, and the Occupations Code to address training and treatment programs related to juvenile sex offenses.
Based on the analysis of the Office of Court Administration, the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Family and Protective Services, and the Juvenile Justice Department, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished using existing resources.
Local Government Impact
According to the Juvenile Justice Department, the IJSXO task force reported that the state may experience a possible cost savings since it is anticipated that the total number of juvenile registrants may decline as a result of the proposed procedural changes and revised registration criteria.
According to the Tom-Green County Juvenile Justice Center, the bill would have no fiscal impact on the Department.
According to Tarrant County Juvenile Services, the bill would have no fiscal impact on the Department.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 405 Department of Public Safety, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 644 Juvenile Justice Department