H.B. No. 1144
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishing a task force to examine the adjudication,
  disposition, and registration of juvenile sex offenders.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  TASK FORCE ON IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR JUVENILES
  ADJUDICATED OF SEXUAL OFFENSES. (a)  In this Act:
               (1)  "Juvenile sex offender" means a person subject to
  the jurisdiction of a juvenile court for conduct that constitutes
  an offense for which registration as a sex offender is required
  under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure.
               (2)  "Task force" means the Task Force on Improving
  Outcomes for Juveniles Adjudicated of Sexual Offenses.
         (b)  The Task Force on Improving Outcomes for Juveniles
  Adjudicated of Sexual Offenses is established.  The purpose of the
  task force is to make policy recommendations to improve the
  outcomes for juvenile sex offenders after studying:
               (1)  the adjudication and disposition processes and
  programs for juvenile sex offenders;
               (2)  counseling, mental health, or other services
  provided by the state or local juvenile probation departments to
  juvenile sex offenders;
               (3)  the sex offender registration process for
  juveniles; and
               (4)  any other issue related to improving the outcomes
  for juvenile sex offenders.
         (c)  The task force is composed of the following members:
               (1)  the executive director of the Texas Juvenile
  Justice Department or the executive director's designee;
               (2)  the commissioner of the Department of Family and
  Protective Services or the commissioner's designee;
               (3)  one representative designated by the Crime Records
  Service of the Department of Public Safety who has experience with
  the department's sex offender registry;
               (4)  one representative designated by the Council on
  Sex Offender Treatment;
               (5)  one representative designated by Children's
  Advocacy Centers of Texas;
               (6)  one representative designated by the Texas
  Association for the Protection of Children;
               (7)  one representative designated by Texans Care for
  Children;
               (8)  one private provider of juvenile sex offender
  treatment from a rural county and one private provider of juvenile
  sex offender treatment from an urban county, appointed by the
  governor;
               (9)  one judge from a rural county and one judge from an
  urban county, appointed by the governor;
               (10)  one law enforcement official from a rural county
  and one law enforcement official from an urban county, appointed by
  the governor;
               (11)  one prosecutor from a rural county and one
  prosecutor from an urban county, appointed by the governor;
               (12)  one juvenile probation officer from a rural
  county and one juvenile probation officer from an urban county,
  appointed by the governor;
               (13)  one juvenile public defender from a rural county
  and one juvenile public defender from an urban county, appointed by
  the governor; and
               (14)  one academic researcher from an accredited
  university who specializes in juvenile justice, appointed by the
  governor.
         (d)  The governor shall designate a member of the task force
  to serve as presiding officer.
         (e)  The presiding officer may designate additional experts
  to serve as advisors to the task force.
         (f)  A person designated to make an appointment of a member
  of the task force shall make the appointment not later than the 60th
  day after the effective date of this Act.  The designated person
  shall fill a vacancy in the task force or a vacancy in the position
  of presiding officer of the task force by the appointment of another
  person with the same qualifications as the original appointee.
         (g)  The presiding officer shall call the initial meeting of
  the task force on or before December 1, 2015.  The task force shall
  meet at the times and places that the presiding officer determines
  are appropriate.
         (h)  A member of the task force is not entitled to
  compensation but may receive reimbursement for the member's actual
  and necessary expenses incurred in attending meetings of the task
  force and performing other official duties authorized by the
  presiding officer of the task force, if funding is available.
         (i)  The task force may request meeting facilities, data,
  clerical assistance, and other assistance from any department,
  agency, institution, office, or political subdivision of this
  state.
         (j)  The task force may consult with any relevant experts and
  stakeholders, including:
               (1)  juvenile sex offenders;
               (2)  family members of juvenile sex offenders;
               (3)  mental health experts;
               (4)  public school district administrators; and
               (5)  higher education administrators.
         (k)  State funds may not be appropriated for purposes of the
  task force.  The task force may apply for, receive, and accept
  grants of funds or other contributions as appropriate to assist in
  the performance of its duties.  The task force may contract for
  consultants or technical assistance.
         (l)  The task force is not subject to Chapter 2110,
  Government Code.
         SECTION 2.  DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. (a)  The task force shall:
               (1)  solicit and review information and hear testimony
  relevant to the purposes of the task force from individuals, state
  and local agencies, community-based organizations, and other
  public and private organizations;
               (2)  review the adjudication and disposition processes
  and programs for juvenile sex offenders, including:
                     (A)  the consistency in adjudication and
  disposition processes across the state;
                     (B)  the training provided to judges, law
  enforcement officers, parole and probation officers, and other
  juvenile service providers on the differences between juvenile and
  adult sex offenders regarding the potential for rehabilitation
  through treatment; and
                     (C)  training provided to judges, law enforcement
  officers, parole and probation officers, and other juvenile service
  providers regarding the most effective way to protect the community
  by reducing recidivism rates among juvenile sex offenders;
               (3)  review juvenile sex offender registration,
  including:
                     (A)  the effectiveness of juvenile sex offender
  registration in reducing recidivism rates;
                     (B)  statistical information regarding juveniles
  required to register as sex offenders;
                     (C)  the impact of juvenile sex offender
  registration on a juvenile, including a juvenile's ability to
  access education, obtain housing, and gain employment; and
                     (D)  the impact of labeling a juvenile as a
  juvenile sex offender on the family of the juvenile;
               (4)  review counseling, mental health, or other
  services provided to juvenile sex offenders, including:
                     (A)  the effectiveness of the services in the
  rehabilitation of juvenile sex offenders and the reduction of
  recidivism rates; and
                     (B)  the current shortage of juvenile sex offender
  service providers; and
               (5)  review statistical information regarding the
  frequency of juvenile sex offenders being victims of abuse or
  neglect or witnesses to family violence.
         (b)  The task force shall adopt rules necessary to fulfill
  the task force's duties under this Act.
         SECTION 3.  REPORT. (a)  The task force shall prepare a
  report that includes:
               (1)  a description of the activities of the task force;
               (2)  the findings and recommendations of the task
  force, including proposed policy recommendations related to:
                     (A)  the provision of coordinated support
  services to juvenile sex offenders; and
                     (B)  the most effective strategy to reduce
  recidivism rates and improve outcomes for juvenile sex offenders;
  and
               (3)  any related proposals for legislation or other
  matters the task force considers appropriate.
         (b)  Not later than December 1, 2016, the task force shall
  deliver the report of the task force's findings and recommendations
  to:
               (1)  the governor;
               (2)  the lieutenant governor;
               (3)  the speaker of the house of representatives;
               (4)  the standing committees of each house of the
  legislature with primary jurisdiction over criminal justice
  matters;
               (5)  the executive director of the Texas Department of
  Criminal Justice;
               (6)  the executive director of the Texas Juvenile
  Justice Department;
               (7)  each state agency and nonprofit organization
  represented on the task force; and
               (8)  any other appropriate agency of this state.
         SECTION 4.  EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and this
  Act expires September 1, 2017.
         SECTION 5.  EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
  immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
  elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
  Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
  immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1144 was passed by the House on May
  15, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 119, Nays 20, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1144 was passed by the Senate on May
  25, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 27, Nays 4.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor