HB 4846

relating to the criminal procedures related to children who commit
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Article 42.15(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
(b)  Subject to Subsection [Subsections] (c) [and (d)] and
Article 43.091, when imposing a fine and costs, a court may direct a
(1)  to pay the entire fine and costs when sentence is
(2)  to pay the entire fine and costs at some later
(3)  to pay a specified portion of the fine and costs at
SECTION 2.  The heading to Article 43.091, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
Art. 43.091.  WAIVER OF PAYMENT OF FINES AND COSTS FOR
CERTAIN DEFENDANTS [AND FOR CHILDREN].
SECTION 3.  Article 43.091(a), Code of Criminal Procedure,
(a)  A court may waive payment of all or part of a fine
imposed on a defendant if the court determines that:
(1)  the defendant is indigent or does not have
sufficient resources or income to pay all or part of the fine [or
was, at the time the offense was committed, a child as defined by
(2)  each alternative method of discharging the fine
under Article 43.09 or 42.15 would impose an undue hardship on the
SECTION 4.  Article 45.305(b), Code of Criminal Procedure,
(b)  A diversion strategy may be imposed under:
(1)  an intermediate diversion under Article 45.309; or
(2)  a diversion by a justice or judge under Article
[(3)  a system of graduated sanctions for certain
school offenses under Section 37.144, Education Code].
SECTION 5.  Article 45A.251(b), Code of Criminal Procedure,
(b)  Subject to Article [Articles] 45A.253(a) [and (b)] and
Article 45A.257, the justice or judge may direct the defendant:
(A)  the entire fine and costs when the sentence
(B)  the entire fine and costs at a later date; or
(C)  a specified portion of the fine and costs at
(2)  if applicable, to make restitution to a victim of
(3)  to satisfy any other sanction authorized by law.
SECTION 6.  Article 45A.257(a), Code of Criminal Procedure,
(a)  A municipal court, regardless of whether the court is a
court of record, or a justice court may waive payment of all or part
of a fine imposed on a defendant if the court determines that:
[(A)]  is indigent or does not have sufficient
resources or income to pay all or part of the fine; [or
[(B)  was, at the time the offense was committed,
a child as defined by Article 45A.453(a);] and
(2)  discharging the fine under Article 45A.254 [or as
otherwise authorized by this chapter] would impose an undue
SECTION 7.  Article 45A.401(b), Code of Criminal Procedure,
(b)  A justice or municipal court may defer proceedings
against a defendant described by Subsection (a) for a period not to
exceed 180 days if the defendant:
(1)  is charged with an offense that the court has
jurisdiction of under Article 4.11 or 4.14;
(2)  with the defendant's parent, guardian, or managing
conservator present, pleads nolo contendere or guilty to the
(3)  presents to the court an oral or written request to
attend a teen court program [or is recommended to attend the program
by a school employee under Section 37.146, Education Code]; and
(4)  has not successfully completed a teen court
program in the year preceding the date that the alleged offense
SECTION 8.  (a)  This section takes effect only if the Act of
the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to
nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes
(b)  Article 45A.451(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended to conform to Chapter 525 (H.B. 3186), Acts of the 88th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, and further amended to read as
(a)  On approval of the commissioners court, governing body
of a municipality, school district board of trustees, juvenile
board, or other appropriate authority, a county court, justice
court, municipal court, school district, juvenile probation
department, or other appropriate governmental entity may:
(1)  employ a juvenile case manager or contract for a
juvenile case manager to provide services [:
(A)  youth diversion under Subchapter K; or
(B)  children [juvenile offenders who are] before
a court consistent with the court's statutory powers; [or
[(B)  to a juvenile who is referred to a court by a
school administrator or designee for misconduct that would
otherwise be within the court's statutory powers before a case is
filed, with the consent of the juvenile and the juvenile's parents
(2)  employ or contract for the services of one or more
(A)  shall assist the court in administering the
court's juvenile docket and in supervising the court's orders in
(B)  may provide youth diversion [:
[(i)  prevention services to a child
considered at risk of entering the juvenile justice system; and
[(ii)  intervention] services to a child
[juvenile] engaged in misconduct, excluding traffic offenses, if a
case has not yet been filed with respect to the misconduct; or
(3)  agree in accordance with Chapter 791, Government
Code, with any appropriate governmental entity to jointly employ a
juvenile case manager, jointly contract for juvenile case manager
services, or [to] jointly contribute to the costs of a juvenile case
manager or juvenile case manager [employed by one governmental
entity to provide] services described by  Subdivisions (1) and (2).
SECTION 9.  (a)  This section takes effect only if the Act of
the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to
nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes does
(b)  Articles 45A.451(a) and (d), Code of Criminal
Procedure, are amended to read as follows:
(a)  On approval of the commissioners court, governing body
of a municipality, school district board of trustees, juvenile
board, or other appropriate authority, a county court, justice
court, municipal court, school district, juvenile probation
department, or other appropriate governmental entity may:
(1)  employ a case manager to provide services [:
[(A)]  in cases involving juvenile offenders [who
are] before a court consistent with the court's statutory powers;
[(B)  to a juvenile who is referred to a court by a
school administrator or designee for misconduct that would
otherwise be within the court's statutory powers before a case is
filed, with the consent of the juvenile and the juvenile's parents
(2)  [employ one or more juvenile case managers who:
[(A)  shall assist the court in administering the
court's juvenile docket and in supervising the court's orders in
[(i)  prevention services to a child
considered at risk of entering the juvenile justice system; and
[(ii)  intervention services to a juvenile
engaged in misconduct, excluding traffic offenses, if a case has
not yet been filed with respect to the misconduct; or
[(3)]  agree in accordance with Chapter 791, Government
Code, with any appropriate governmental entity to jointly employ a
case manager or to jointly contribute to the costs of a case manager
employed by one governmental entity to provide services described
by Subdivision [Subdivisions] (1) [and (2)].
(d)  An entity that jointly employs a case manager under
Subsection (a)(2) [(a)(3)] employs a juvenile case manager for
SECTION 10.  (a)  This section takes effect only if the Act
of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to
nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes
(b)  Article 45A.451(a-1), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
repealed to conform to the reenactment of Article 45.056(c), Code
of Criminal Procedure, by Chapter 525 (H.B. 3186), Acts of the 88th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2023.
SECTION 11.  (a)  This section takes effect only if the Act
of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to
nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes does
(b)  Article 45A.451(a-1), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
(a-1)  A county or justice court on approval of the
commissioners court or a municipality or municipal court on
approval of the governing body of the municipality may employ one or
more juvenile case managers to [who:
[(1)  shall] assist the court in administering the
court's juvenile docket and in supervising the court's orders in
[(A)  prevention services to a child considered at
risk of entering the juvenile justice system; and
[(B)  intervention services to a juvenile engaged
in misconduct, excluding traffic offenses, if a case has not yet
been filed with respect to the misconduct].
SECTION 12.  Article 45A.453(h), Code of Criminal Procedure,
(h)  Except as provided by Subsection (i) [and Section
37.143(a), Education Code], for a traffic offense or an offense
punishable by fine only, a law enforcement officer may issue a
citation as provided by Article 14.06 instead of taking a child into
SECTION 13.  Article 45A.462(b), Code of Criminal Procedure,
(b)  Except as provided by Article 15.27 and Subsection (c)
of this article, all records and files, including those held by law
enforcement, and information stored by electronic means or
otherwise, from which a record or file could be generated, relating
to a child who is charged with, is convicted of, is found not guilty
of, or had a charge dismissed for [, or is granted deferred
disposition for] a fine-only misdemeanor offense other than a
traffic offense are confidential and may not be disclosed to the
SECTION 14.  Section 25.0915(c), Education Code, is amended
(c)  A truancy court shall dismiss a petition filed by a
truant conduct prosecutor under Section 65.054, Family Code, if the
court determines that the school district's referral:
(1)  [does not comply with Subsection (b);
[(2)]  does not satisfy the elements required for
(2) [(3)]  is not timely filed, unless the school
district delayed the referral under Section 25.0951(d); or
(3) [(4)]  is otherwise substantively defective.
SECTION 15.  Section 37.081(b), Education Code, is amended
(b)  In a peace officer's jurisdiction, a peace officer
commissioned under this section:
(1)  has the powers, privileges, and immunities of
(2)  may enforce all laws, including municipal
ordinances, county ordinances, and state laws; and
(3)  may, in accordance with Chapter 52, Family Code,
or Article 45A.453, Code of Criminal Procedure, take a child into
[(4)  may dispose of cases in accordance with Section
SECTION 16.  Section 37.124(d), Education Code, is amended
(d)  It is an exception to the application of Subsection (a)
that, at the time the person engaged in conduct prohibited under
that subsection, the person was a student in the sixth grade or a
lower grade level [younger than 12 years of age].
SECTION 17.  Section 37.126(c), Education Code, is amended
(c)  It is an exception to the application of Subsection
(a)(1) that, at the time the person engaged in conduct prohibited
under that subdivision, the person was a student in the sixth grade
or a lower grade level [younger than 12 years of age].
SECTION 18.  The heading to Chapter 52, Family Code, is
CHAPTER 52.  PROCEEDINGS BEFORE AND INCLUDING REFERRAL TO JUVENILE
SECTION 19.  Section 52.03(a), Family Code, is amended to
(a)  A law-enforcement officer authorized by this title to
take a child into custody may dispose of the case of a child taken
into custody [or accused of a Class C misdemeanor, other than a
traffic offense,] without referral to juvenile court [or charging a
child in a court of competent criminal jurisdiction,] if:
(1)  guidelines for such disposition have been adopted
by the juvenile board of the county in which the disposition is made
(2)  the disposition is authorized by the guidelines;
(3)  the officer makes a written report of the officer's
disposition to the law-enforcement agency, identifying the child
and specifying the grounds for believing that the taking into
custody [or accusation of criminal conduct] was authorized.
SECTION 20.  Section 52.031(a), Family Code, is amended to
(a)  A juvenile board may establish a first offender program
under this section for the referral and disposition of children
taken into custody for [, or accused prior to the filing of a
(1)  conduct indicating a need for supervision; or
(2)  [a Class C misdemeanor, other than a traffic
[(3)]  delinquent conduct other than conduct that
(A)  a felony of the first, second, or third
degree, an aggravated controlled substance felony, or a capital
(B)  a state jail felony or misdemeanor involving
violence to a person or the use or possession of a firearm,
location-restricted knife, or club, as those terms are defined by
Section 46.01, Penal Code, or a prohibited weapon, as described by
SECTION 21.  Sections 52.031(d), (f), (i), and (j), Family
Code, as amended by Chapters 1407 (S.B. 393) and 1409 (S.B. 1114),
Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, are reenacted
and amended to read as follows:
(d)  A law enforcement officer taking a child into custody
[or accusing a child of an offense described in Subsection (a)(2)]
may refer the child to the law enforcement officer or agency
designated under Subsection (b) for disposition under the first
offender program and not refer the child to juvenile court [or a
court of competent criminal jurisdiction] only if:
(1)  the child has not previously been adjudicated as
having engaged in delinquent conduct;
(2)  the referral complies with guidelines for
disposition under Subsection (c); and
(3)  the officer reports in writing the referral to the
agency, identifying the child and specifying the grounds for taking
the child into custody [or accusing a child of an offense described
(f)  The parent, guardian, or other custodian of the child
must receive notice that the child has been referred for
disposition under the first offender program.  The notice must:
(1)  state the grounds for taking the child into
custody [or accusing a child of an offense described in Subsection
(2)  identify the law enforcement officer or agency to
(3)  briefly describe the nature of the program; and
(4)  state that the child's failure to complete the
program will result in the child being referred to the juvenile
court [or a court of competent criminal jurisdiction].
(i)  The case of a child who successfully completes the first
offender program is closed and may not be referred to juvenile court
[or a court of competent criminal jurisdiction], unless the child
is taken into custody under circumstances described by Subsection
(j)  The case of a child referred for disposition under the
first offender program shall be referred to juvenile court [or a
court of competent criminal jurisdiction] if:
(1)  the child fails to complete the program;
(2)  the child or the parent, guardian, or other
custodian of the child terminates the child's participation in the
program before the child completes it; or
(3)  the child completes the program but is taken into
custody under Section 52.01 before the 90th day after the date the
child completes the program for conduct other than the conduct for
which the child was referred to the first offender program.
SECTION 22.  Section 42.01(f), Penal Code, is amended to
(f)  Subsections (a)(1), (2), (3), (5), and (6) do not apply
to a person who, at the time the person engaged in conduct
prohibited under the applicable subdivision, was a student in the
sixth grade or a lower grade level [younger than 12 years of age],
and the prohibited conduct occurred at a public school campus
SECTION 23.  The following provisions are repealed:
(1)  Articles 42.15(d), (e), and (f), Code of Criminal
(2)  Articles 45A.253(b) and (c), Code of Criminal
(3)  Sections 37.141, 37.142, 37.143, 37.144, 37.145,
37.146, and 37.147, Education Code;
(4)  Sections 51.08(f) and 52.031(a-1), Family Code;
(5)  Sections 8.07(d) and (e), Penal Code; and
SECTION 24.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only
to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this
Act.  An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.  For
purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
SECTION 25.  It is the intent of the 89th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2025, that the amendments made by this Act to
Article 45.305(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, be harmonized with
another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025,
relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted
SECTION 26.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.