Zooming in
The Texas Youth Diversion and Early Intervention Act requires municipal and justice courts to have written plans for youth diversion, including educational programs, leadership training, job training and mental health screenings. It also allows the court to charge a $50 administrative fee to a child defendant's parent to help cover the costs of diversion programs.
The act went into effect Jan. 1, 2024.
What's next?
Council will vote whether to adopt juvenile diversion operations as well as create the Local Youth Diversion Administrative Fund with the associated fee. The ordinance states that the city will deposit the funds into a special account that can only go towards the cost of the youth diversion programs.
