BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2229
86R11369 ADM-D	By: Johnson, Jarvis (Whitmire)
	Criminal Justice
	5/14/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Reports indicate that many individuals who have entered into a foster care system at least once in their life will later enter a federal or state correctional system. However, concerns have been raised regarding the lack of data accessible online concerning the population of children committed to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) that were, or are currently, in the state foster care system. H.B. 2229 seeks to address this issue by requiring TJJD to collect certain data for a child in TJJD custody for purposes of assisting the legislature, advocates, and TJJD in altering, targeting, and increasing services to prevent foster youth from entering the juvenile justice system.

H.B. 2229 amends current law relating to a report� of information concerning juvenile offenders committed to the Texas Juvenile Department who has been in foster care.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 243.008(e), Human Resources Code, as follows:

(e) Requires the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD), not later than January 31 of each even‑numbered year, to submit a report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and each member of the legislature, rather than to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing committee having primary jurisdiction over TJJD. Requires TJJD to also make the report available to the public on TJJD's Internet website. Requires data in the report to be disaggregated by:

(1) age;

(2) sex;

(3) race or ethnicity;

(4) the conduct for which children were committed to TJJD; and

(5) children entering the juvenile justice system for the first time.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.