H.B. No. 1511 aims to enhance the authority of political subdivisions in Texas to adopt and enforce juvenile curfews, establishing specific procedures and penalties for violations. The bill amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to include a new article, 45A.4555, which outlines the process for taking a child into custody for violating a juvenile curfew ordinance. It specifies that a peace officer must either release the child to a guardian, take them to court, or to a designated juvenile curfew processing office, which must adhere to certain conditions to ensure the child's safety and rights. Additionally, the bill allows general-law municipalities to adopt curfew ordinances similar to those of counties, with specific restrictions on the hours of enforcement.

The legislation also introduces a review process for juvenile curfew ordinances, requiring municipalities and counties to assess the impact of their curfews every three years. It establishes that violations of these curfews will be classified as Class C misdemeanors. Furthermore, the bill repeals previous provisions related to juvenile curfews and clarifies that the changes will only apply to offenses committed after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 51.02, Government Code 38.003, Penal Code 8.07 (Family Code 51, Government Code 38, Penal Code 8)