Bill

HB 2737

86(R) - 2019
House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Senate State Affairs
House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Senate State Affairs
Courts

Vote Recommendation

Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Gene Wu
Harold Dutton Jr.
James Frank
Jeff Leach
James White

Co-Author(s)

Ana-Maria Ramos
Valoree Swanson

Sponsor(s)

Nathan Johnson

Bill Caption

Relating to judicial guidance related to child protective services cases and juvenile cases.

Fiscal Notes

The Legislative Budget Board does not anticipate any significant fiscal impact. 

Bill Analysis

HB 2737 would require the supreme court in conjunction with the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families, to annually provide guidance to judges who preside over Child Protective Services (CPS) cases and juvenile cases.

The goal would be to provide for greater uniformity across the state on the handling of CPS cases related to placement of children with severe mental health issues, changes in placement, and final termination of parental rights; and with respect to juvenile cases, issues related to the placement of children with severe mental health issues, the release of children detained in juvenile detention facilities, and certification of juveniles to stand trial is adults, and commitment of children to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

Texas Action is neutral on HB 2737 because it is an administrative bill with no apparent connection to our liberty principles. However, to the extent that there may be significant disparities in the handling of these cases across jurisdictions, some guidance to provide more consistency is probably a good thing.