HB 3442
AN ACT relating to approved court-ordered alcohol awareness programs.
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Modifies court-ordered alcohol awareness programs for minors who are charged with alcohol-related offenses. It requires minors on deferred disposition or convicted of alcohol-related offenses to complete either a state-regulated alcohol awareness program, a substance misuse education program, or a six-hour alcohol awareness program approved by the court. The bill expands court options for addressing minor alcohol offenses by providing flexibility in program selection while maintaining a focus on education and intervention.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to approved court-ordered alcohol awareness programs. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Sections 106.115(a) and (a-1), Alcoholic Beverage Code, are amended to read as follows: (a) On the placement of a minor on deferred disposition for an offense under Section 49.02, Penal Code, or under Section 106.02, 106.025, 106.04, 106.041, 106.05, or 106.07, the court shall require the defendant to successfully complete one of the (1) an alcohol awareness program under this section that is regulated under Chapter 171, Government Code; [or] (2) a substance misuse education program under Section 521.374(a)(1), Transportation Code, that is regulated under Chapter 171, Government Code; or (3) any six-hour alcohol awareness program approved by (a-1) On conviction of a minor of an offense under Section 49.02, Penal Code, or Section 106.02, 106.025, 106.04, 106.041, 106.05, or 106.07, the court, in addition to assessing a fine as provided by those sections, shall require a defendant who has not been previously convicted of an offense under one of those sections to successfully complete a [an alcohol awareness program or a substance misuse education] program described by Subsection (a). If the defendant has been previously convicted once or more of an offense under one or more of those sections, the court may require the defendant to successfully complete a [an alcohol awareness program or a substance misuse education] program described by SECTION 2. Article 45A.303(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, (b) During the deferral period, the judge may require the (1) secure payment of the fine by posting a bond in the amount of the fine assessed as punishment for the offense; (2) pay restitution to the victim of the offense in an amount not to exceed the amount of the fine assessed as punishment (3) submit to professional counseling; (4) submit to diagnostic testing for alcohol or a (5) submit to a psychosocial assessment; (6) successfully complete an alcohol awareness or substance misuse [drug abuse] treatment or education program, such (A) a substance misuse [drug] education program that is designed to educate persons on the dangers of substance misuse [drug abuse] in accordance with Section 521.374(a)(1), Transportation Code, and that is regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation under Chapter 171, Government Code; or (B) an alcohol awareness program described by Section 106.115, Alcoholic Beverage Code[, that is regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation under Chapter 171, (7) pay the costs of any diagnostic testing, psychosocial assessment, or treatment or education program participation as reimbursement fees: (B) through the court as court costs; (8) complete a driving safety course approved under Chapter 1001, Education Code, or another course as directed by the (9) present to the court satisfactory evidence that the defendant has complied with each requirement imposed by the judge under this subchapter; and (10) comply with any other reasonable condition. SECTION 3. Section 53.03(h-2), Family Code, is amended to (h-2) If the child is alleged to have engaged in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision that violates Section 106.02, 106.025, 106.04, 106.041, 106.05, or 106.07, Alcoholic Beverage Code, or Section 49.02, Penal Code, deferred prosecution under this section may include a condition that the child successfully complete an alcohol awareness program described by Section 106.115, Alcoholic Beverage Code[, that is regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation under Chapter 171, SECTION 4. Section 54.047(b), Family Code, is amended to (b) If the court or jury finds at an adjudication hearing for a child that the child engaged in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision that violates the alcohol-related offenses in Section 106.02, 106.025, 106.04, 106.041, 106.05, or 106.07, Alcoholic Beverage Code, or Section 49.02, Penal Code, the court may order that the child successfully complete an alcohol awareness program described by Section 106.115, Alcoholic Beverage Code[, that is regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation under Chapter 171, Government Code]. SECTION 5. Sections 106.115(b-1) and (b-2), Alcoholic SECTION 6. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails over another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Expert Lobbyists for This Bill
These lobbyists specialize in Alcoholic Beverage Regulation and related subject areas.
Adnelis M. Perez Vega
PremiumBrianna M. Menard
Robert D. Miller
Haley Cornyn
Michael Toomey
Allen E. Blakemore
Vera Denise Rose
Gavin L. Massingill
Fred Shannon
Matthew Bentley
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to approved court-ordered alcohol awareness programs.
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