S.B. No. 1727 seeks to amend various provisions related to juvenile justice proceedings in Texas, particularly focusing on the adjudication and disposition of cases involving delinquent conduct. A key change is the introduction of Article 42A.061, which disqualifies defendants from eligibility for community supervision for certain felony offenses committed at age 17 or older while placed in specific juvenile facilities. The bill also alters the definition of habitual felony conduct, reducing the requirement from two previous adjudications to one, and clarifies the conditions for transferring a child to district court for further proceedings. Additionally, it includes amendments to the Family Code that allow courts to consider various factors when modifying dispositions for children who violate probation conditions and establishes new procedures for transferring children to district courts.

Moreover, the bill amends sections of the Human Resources Code and Government Code to refine the Texas Juvenile Justice Department's handling of children committed under certain sentences. Notably, it stipulates that the department cannot grant credit for time spent in secure detention prior to commitment when calculating a child's minimum confinement period. It also allows prosecuting attorneys from a special prosecution unit to participate in hearings regarding a child's return to an institution for violations of release conditions, while prohibiting them from representing the child in those hearings. Other amendments restrict the release of children under supervision if they are alleged to have engaged in felony conduct during their commitment or are under indictment for such conduct, and modify the criteria for extending a child's stay in custody. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and applies only to conduct or offenses occurring on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 51.02, Family Code 53.045, Family Code 54.05, Family Code 54.051, Family Code 54.052, Subchapter E, Chapter , Government Code 245.051, Human Resources Code 244.014, Human Resources Code 245.051, Human Resources Code 245.151, Penal Code 38.112, Family Code 51.031 (Subchapter E, Chapter , Government Code 245, Human Resources Code 245, Family Code 51, Penal Code 38, Family Code 53, Human Resources Code 244, Family Code 54)
Senate Committee Report: Family Code 51.02, Family Code 53.04, Family Code 53.045, Family Code 54.051, Family Code 54.052, Government Code 41.302, Human Resources Code 244.014, Human Resources Code 245.051, Human Resources Code 245.101, Human Resources Code 245.102, Penal Code 38.112, Family Code 51.031 (Subchapter E, Chapter , Government Code 245, Human Resources Code 245, Family Code 51, Penal Code 38, Government Code 41, Family Code 53, Human Resources Code 244, Family Code 54)
Engrossed: Family Code 51.02, Family Code 53.04, Family Code 53.045, Family Code 54.051, Family Code 54.052, Government Code 41.302, Human Resources Code 244.014, Human Resources Code 245.051, Human Resources Code 245.101, Human Resources Code 245.102, Penal Code 38.112, Family Code 51.031 (Subchapter E, Chapter , Government Code 245, Human Resources Code 245, Family Code 51, Penal Code 38, Government Code 41, Family Code 53, Human Resources Code 244, Family Code 54)
House Committee Report: Family Code 51.02, Family Code 53.04, Family Code 53.045, Family Code 54.051, Family Code 54.052, Government Code 41.302, Human Resources Code 244.014, Human Resources Code 245.051, Human Resources Code 245.101, Human Resources Code 245.102, Penal Code 38.112, Family Code 51.031 (Subchapter E, Chapter , Government Code 245, Human Resources Code 245, Family Code 51, Penal Code 38, Government Code 41, Family Code 53, Human Resources Code 244, Family Code 54)