The Juvenile Girls Protection Act aims to establish guidelines for the placement of children in detention or correctional facilities based on their biological sex. The bill amends existing sections of the Family Code, specifically Sections 51.12 and 51.125, to include a new requirement that facilities must strictly comply with the newly added Section 51.127. This section mandates that a juvenile board or the Texas Juvenile Justice Department must place a child according to their biological sex as determined by their official birth certificate or another government record if the birth certificate is unavailable. It also specifies that the biological sex stated on the birth certificate must have been entered at or near the time of birth and not modified, except for clerical errors.

Additionally, the bill ensures that the vital statistics unit of the Department of State Health Services cannot charge fees for issuing birth certificates for this purpose. It emphasizes the need for juvenile boards and the Texas Juvenile Justice Board to adopt rules to implement these provisions while ensuring compliance with state and federal laws, particularly regarding the safety needs of each child as outlined in the Prison Rape Elimination Act National Standards. The Act will take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that vote is not achieved.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 51.12, Family Code 51.125 (Family Code 51)
House Committee Report: Family Code 51.12, Family Code 51.125 (Family Code 51)