The bill amends various sections of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Education Code, and Family Code to adjust the age definitions and jurisdictional authority concerning juvenile offenders. Specifically, it raises the minimum age for a child to be defined as someone who is at least 13 years old, as opposed to the previous threshold of 10 years. Additionally, it introduces a new provision allowing juvenile courts to waive their jurisdiction over children under 13 years of age, contingent upon a hearing that assesses the appropriateness of court intervention versus less restrictive alternatives.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the criteria for criminal responsibility, stating that individuals under 13 years of age cannot be prosecuted for certain offenses, while those aged 13 to 15 are presumed incapable of committing specific crimes unless proven otherwise. The legislation also repeals certain existing provisions related to juvenile jurisdiction and criminal responsibility. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025, and require updates to training for law enforcement and juvenile justice personnel to reflect the new legal standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 37.141, Family Code 51.02, Penal Code 8.07 (Education Code 37, Penal Code 8, Family Code 51)