BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2229

By: Johnson, Jarvis

Juvenile Justice & Family Issues

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

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.

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. 2229 amends the Human Resources Code to require data in the report by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) summarizing 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 to be disaggregated by age, sex, race or ethnicity, the conduct for which children were committed to TJJD, and children entering the juvenile justice system for the first time. The bill expands those to whom the report must be submitted to include each member of the legislature. The bill requires TJJD to make the report available to the public on its website.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.