H.B. No. 4476 proposes amendments to the Family Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding the jurisdiction of juvenile courts and the expunction of records for certain offenses involving firearms. The bill mandates that juvenile courts waive their exclusive original jurisdiction and transfer children aged 14 and older to criminal courts if they are accused of committing a first-degree felony while using or exhibiting a firearm. This transfer can occur without the need for a discretionary transfer study, and the summons for the hearing must only provide notice of the mandatory transfer.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new subchapter in the Code of Criminal Procedure that allows individuals who were transferred from juvenile court to seek expunction of their records if they are 25 years or older and have not been subsequently convicted of firearm-related offenses. The expunction process includes filing a petition and attending a hearing where the court will determine eligibility based on specific criteria, including rehabilitation. The bill also outlines the requirements for expunction orders and the consequences of violating these orders. The changes will apply only to offenses committed on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 54.02 (Family Code 54)