The provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions for adults are the subject of this analysis. The bill would amend the Family Code as it relates to the eligibility of certain juveniles to be transferred to adult criminal court. Under the provisions of the bill, a juvenile court would not be able to waive jurisdiction and transfer individuals who are 15 or 16 at offense to adult criminal court to be prosecuted for a state jail felony.  The bill would take effect on September 1, 2019 and apply only to conduct that occurs on or after the effective date of the Act.
 
Prohibiting the transfer of certain juveniles to adult court is expected to result in increased demands upon the juvenile justice system and decreased demands upon the adult criminal justice system. In fiscal year 2018, there were 7 juveniles transferred to adult court whose case would no longer be eligible to be transferred under the provisions of the bill. Once the bill is fully implemented, it is assumed this would result in an annual increase of fewer than ten admissions to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, an annual decrease of fewer than ten admissions to state correctional institutions, and an annual decrease of fewer than ten placements onto felony community supervision.