By: Wu, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Johnson) H.B. No. 2737
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 2, 2019;
  May 7, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on State
  Affairs; May 19, 2019, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 19, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to judicial guidance related to child protective services
  cases and juvenile cases.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 22, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 22.0135 to read as follows:
         Sec. 22.0135.  JUDICIAL GUIDANCE RELATED TO CHILD PROTECTIVE
  SERVICES CASES AND JUVENILE CASES. (a) The supreme court, in
  conjunction with the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial
  Commission for Children, Youth and Families, annually shall provide
  guidance to judges who preside over child protective services cases
  or juvenile cases to establish greater uniformity across the state
  for:
               (1)  in child protective services cases, issues related
  to:
                     (A)  placement of children with severe mental
  health issues;
                     (B)  changes in placement; and
                     (C)  final termination of parental rights; and
               (2)  in juvenile cases, issues related to:
                     (A)  placement of children with severe mental
  health issues;
                     (B)  the release of children detained in juvenile
  detention facilities;
                     (C)  certification of juveniles to stand trial as
  adults;
                     (D)  a child's appearance before a court in a
  judicial proceeding, including the use of a restraint on the child
  and the clothing worn by the child during the proceeding; and
                     (E)  commitment of children to the Texas Juvenile
  Justice Department.
         (b)  The supreme court shall adopt the rules necessary to
  accomplish the purposes of this section.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
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