House Bill No. 1821 aims to enhance the support provided to children and their guardians regarding the sealing of juvenile records. The bill amends Section 58.262 of the Family Code to require juvenile probation department employees to provide both written and oral explanations of the sealing process to the child and their guardians. Additionally, it mandates the provision of a list of local resources, including attorneys who offer low or no-cost representation for sealing juvenile records. The bill also introduces new subsections that ensure these explanations are comprehensive and allow for questions from the guardians.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a new section, 58.2625, which requires the State Bar of Texas to create and maintain an online directory of attorneys who provide low or no-cost legal assistance for sealing juvenile records. This directory will be organized by administrative judicial regions and made publicly accessible on the State Bar's website. The overall goal of the bill is to improve access to legal resources and information for families navigating the juvenile justice system, with the provisions set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 58.262 (Family Code 58)