The bill, S.B. No. 194, aims to divert certain foster youth from the juvenile justice system by enhancing the referral process for children engaged in delinquent conduct. It amends Section 53.01(b-1) of the Family Code to specify that referrals to community resources should be made for children who are either younger than 12 years of age and not currently receiving services or those residing in a general residential operation. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for a behavior intervention program in residential child-care facilities, which includes crisis response training to limit law enforcement involvement.

Furthermore, the bill establishes policies for juvenile boards to prioritize the diversion of children under 12 or those in general residential operations from prosecution and to limit detention to last-resort circumstances. It mandates tracking the success of these policies, including the number of children referred and their outcomes. The changes are set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and apply only to conduct occurring on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Human Resources Code 42.002, Human Resources Code 152.00145 (Human Resources Code 152, Human Resources Code 42)