By: Burton	S.B. No. 1836
	(In the Senate - Filed March 9, 2017; March 23, 2017, read
	first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice;
	April 26, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 6,
	Nays 1; April 26, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to a study on the adjudication of juveniles charged with
	misdemeanors punishable by fine only and the use of certain terms
	signifying age in the criminal justice and juvenile justice
	statutes of this state.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  (a)  The Office of Court Administration of the
	Texas Judicial System shall conduct a study to examine the use of
	the terms "juvenile," "child," and "minor" throughout the criminal
	justice and juvenile justice statutes of this state and the varying
	definitions assigned those terms.  The study shall also determine
	whether:
	(1)  adjudication under the adult criminal justice
	system of juveniles charged with misdemeanors punishable by fine
	only is just and efficient; and
	(2)  certain procedures under the juvenile justice
	system if used in the adjudication of juveniles charged with
	misdemeanors punishable by fine only would provide a more just and
	efficient process for responding to violations of the law by
	juvenile offenders.
	(b)  In conducting the study under Subsection (a) of this
	section, the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial
	System shall consult with the chair of the senate criminal justice
	committee, the chair of the juvenile justice and family issues
	committee of the house of representatives, and the chair of the
	corrections committee of the house of representatives.
	(c)  Not later than December 1, 2018, the Office of Court
	Administration of the Texas Judicial System shall submit a report
	containing the results of the study conducted under Subsection (a)
	of this section to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
	speaker of the house of representatives, and the appropriate
	standing committees of the senate and the house of representatives.
	SECTION 2.  This Act expires December 1, 2019.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
	* * * * *