Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

______________ C RIMINAL
USTICE /Juveniles
RIMINAL JUSTICE
77 th Texas Legislature
No Lottery Tickets for Children - S.B. 257
by Senator Carona
House Sponsor: Representative Goolsby
While current Texas law prohibits sales agents or their employees from selling lottery tickets to minors, the
law does not prohibit minors from purchasing lottery tickets.
Makes it an offense for persons younger than 18 years of age to purchase lottery tickets or to falsely
represent themselves as adults. Provides that such an offense is punishable by a fine not to exceed $250.
Provides a defense to false representation if the persons are participating in an inspection investigation of
entities that sell tickets.
Teen Court Program - H.B. 822
by Representative Giddings, et al.
Senate Sponsor: Senator West
Extends from 90 to 180 days the period that justice or municipal courts may defer proceedings against
certain defendants who are under the age of 18 or enrolled full time in an accredited secondary school in a
program leading toward a high school diploma.
Extends the time a juvenile court may defer adjudication in certain proceedings from 90 days to not more
than 180 days.
Requires a defendant or a child for whom proceedings are deferred to complete the teen court program not
later than the 90th day after the date the teen court hearing to determine punishment is held or the last day
of the deferral period, whichever date is earlier.
Juvenile Justice Code - H.B. 1118
by Representative Goodman, et al.
Senate Sponsor: Senator West
Juvenile justice practitioners and officials, many of whom assisted in the extensive juvenile justice reforms
three sessions ago, met prior to this session to identify problem areas for possible legislation. H.B. 1118
includes a number of substantive amendments to the Juvenile Justice Code and related statutes dealing
primarily with provisions related to youth records (automatic restriction of access to juvenile records,
destruction of records for housekeeping purposes), sex offender registration review, delineation of juvenile
board duties, activities of justice and municipal courts, timely appointment of counsel, Texas Youth
Commission (TYC) commitment criteria, and temporary custody for fingerprints and photographs among
others.
Senate Research Center 58