BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1887

By: Huffman

Juvenile Justice & Family Issues

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Children's courts were created to assist general jurisdiction trial courts in managing their child abuse and neglect dockets. Since these dockets tend to be smaller and children's court judges have specialized training to address child well-being, it is suggested that these courts are in an excellent position to oversee dually-involved youth cases and that the "one family/one judge" approach improves case outcomes for dually-involved youth, administrative efficiency, and the thoughtful use of existing court resources. S.B. 1887 seeks to allow for the transfer of venue of a juvenile case from a court exercising juvenile jurisdiction to the court with venue over a youth's child welfare case.

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

S.B. 1887 amends the Family Code to authorize a juvenile court judge to refer any aspect of a child protection suit to an associate judge who serves in the county with the associate judge's consent. The bill subjects the scope of an associate judge's authority over such a suit to any limitations placed by the juvenile court judge in the order of referral. The bill authorizes an associate judge to hear and render an order in a referred suit, subject to applicable limitations.  

S.B. 1887 authorizes a juvenile court to transfer a child's case, including transcripts of records and documents for the case, to a court located in a county that is exercising jurisdiction over the child under statutory provisions relating to the review of the placement of a child under the care of the Department of Family and Protective Services or to child welfare services for adjudication or disposition of the case. The bill expressly does not require consent of the court to which the case is transferred.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.