H.B. No. 2234 proposes significant amendments to Texas law regarding the age of criminal responsibility, raising the threshold from 17 to 18 years. The bill redefines "child" in the Family Code to encompass individuals aged 10 to under 18, as well as those aged 18 to under 20 for offenses committed before turning 18. It prohibits prosecution for offenses committed before the age of 18, with certain exceptions, and establishes that individuals under 18 cannot be taken into secured custody for such offenses. The changes will take effect for offenses committed on or after September 1, 2027, and include modifications to various sections of the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure to reflect the new age threshold.

Additionally, the bill introduces provisions for the handling of cases involving individuals aged 19 and older, allowing juvenile courts to defer adjudication proceedings and extend probation periods until the individual's 20th birthday. It also adjusts the age limits for juvenile supervision and court jurisdiction, extending the transfer of supervision to district courts from the 19th to the 20th birthday and modifying the termination age for certain court orders from 18 to 19. The bill further allows for the sealing of juvenile records at 19 instead of 18, provided specific criteria are met, and establishes an advisory committee to oversee the implementation of these changes, which aims to enhance the juvenile justice system's focus on rehabilitation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 51.02, Penal Code 8.07, Penal Code 15.031, Penal Code 21.02, Penal Code 33.021, Penal Code 71.028, Transportation Code 545.424, Transportation Code 729.001, Transportation Code 729.002, Education Code 37.085, Transportation Code 521.453, Family Code 51.041, Family Code 51.0412, Family Code 51.12, Family Code 54.02, Family Code 54.0326, Family Code 54.04, Family Code 54.0405, Family Code 54.041, Family Code 54.05, Family Code 54.051, Family Code 54.11, Family Code 55.15, Family Code 55.18, Family Code 55.19, Family Code 55.43, Family Code 55.44, Family Code 56.03, Family Code 58.0052, Family Code 58.253, Family Code 58.255, Family Code 58.256, Family Code 58.264, Family Code 59.005, Family Code 59.006, Family Code 59.007, Family Code 59.008, Family Code 59.009, Family Code 61.051, Health and Safety Code 614.019, Human Resources Code 63.001, Human Resources Code 152.0015, Human Resources Code 51.12, Human Resources Code 243.001, Human Resources Code 243.051, Human Resources Code 244.014, Human Resources Code 244.015, Human Resources Code 245.053, Human Resources Code 245.151, Commerce Code 109.001, Family Code 65.251, Government Code 79.001, Transportation Code 521.201 (Penal Code 15, Family Code 56, Family Code 59, Family Code 54, Family Code 61, Family Code 65, Commerce Code 109, Family Code 58, Government Code 79, Transportation Code 521, Human Resources Code 51, Education Code 37, Human Resources Code 245, Transportation Code 729, Family Code 55, Human Resources Code 63, Penal Code 21, Human Resources Code 152, Family Code 51, Health and Safety Code 614, Penal Code 33, Penal Code 71, Penal Code 8, Transportation Code 545, Human Resources Code 244, Human Resources Code 243)