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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to new crimes committed while committed to the Texas |
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Juvenile Justice Department. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 245.101, Human Resources Code, is |
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amended as follows: |
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Sec. 245.101. COMPLETION OF MINIMUM LENGTH OF STAY; PANEL. |
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(a) After a child who is committed to the department without a |
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determinate sentence completes the minimum length of stay |
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established by the department for the child under Section |
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243.002, and the child does not have a pending petition for new |
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delinquent conduct, and is not under indictment for a felony |
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committed during that commitment, the department shall, in the |
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manner provided by this section and Section 245.102: |
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(1) discharge the child from the custody of the |
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department; |
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(2) release the child under supervision under Section |
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245.051; or |
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(3) extend the length of the child's stay in the |
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custody of the department. |
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(b) The board by rule shall establish a panel whose function |
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is to review and determine whether a child who has completed the |
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child's minimum length of stay should be discharged from the |
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custody of the department as provided by Subsection (a)(1), be |
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released under supervision under Section 245.051 as provided by |
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Subsection (a)(2), or remain in the custody of the department for an |
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additional period of time as provided by Subsection (a)(3). |
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(c) The executive director shall determine the size of the |
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panel described by Subsection (b) and the length of the members' |
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terms of service on the panel. The panel must consist of an odd |
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number of members and the terms of the panel's members must last for |
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at least two years. The executive director shall adopt policies |
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that ensure the transparency, consistency, and objectivity of the |
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panel's composition, procedures, and decisions. The executive |
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director shall appoint persons to serve as members of the panel. A |
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person appointed to the panel must be a department employee who |
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works at the department's central office. A member of the panel may |
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not be involved in any supervisory decisions concerning children in |
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the custody of the department. |
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SECTION 2. Title 3, Chapter 53, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 53.045 (18) to read as follows: |
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(18) Any degree of felony, except state jail, |
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committed by a juvenile while committed to the department. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |