Texas Health and Safety Code 614.018 – Continuity of Care for Juveniles With Mental Impairments
(a) The Texas Juvenile Justice Department, the Department of Public Safety, the Department of State Health Services, the Department of Aging and Disability Services, the Department of Family and Protective Services, the Texas Education Agency, and local juvenile probation departments shall adopt a memorandum of understanding that establishes their respective responsibilities to institute a continuity of care and service program for juveniles with mental impairments in the juvenile justice system. The Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical and Mental Impairments shall coordinate and monitor the development and implementation of the memorandum of understanding.
(b) The memorandum of understanding must establish methods for:
(1) identifying juveniles with mental impairments in the juvenile justice system and collecting and reporting relevant data to the office;
(2) developing interagency rules, policies, and procedures for the coordination of care of and the exchange of information on juveniles with mental impairments who are committed to or treated, served, or supervised by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, the Department of Public Safety, the Department of State Health Services, the Department of Family and Protective Services, the Department of Aging and Disability Services, the Texas Education Agency, local juvenile probation departments, local mental health or intellectual and developmental disability authorities, and independent school districts; and
(3) identifying the services needed by juveniles with mental impairments in the juvenile justice system.
Terms Used In Texas Health and Safety Code 614.018
- Justice: when applied to a magistrate, means justice of the peace. See Texas Government Code 312.011
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
(c) For purposes of this section, “continuity of care and service program” includes:
(1) identifying the medical, psychiatric, or psychological care or treatment needs and educational or rehabilitative service needs of a juvenile with mental impairments in the juvenile justice system;
(2) developing a plan for meeting the needs identified under Subdivision (1); and
(3) coordinating the provision of continual treatment, care, and services throughout the juvenile justice system to juveniles with mental impairments.