Bill > HB1511

This bill provides comprehensive guidelines for juvenile curfews in Texas, allowing counties and general-law municipalities to establish and enforce curfew ordinances for individuals under 17 years old. The legislation permits county commissioners courts to create curfews from half an hour after sunset until half an hour before sunrise in unincorporated areas, with the ability to set different hours for different age groups and days of the week. General-law municipalities can adopt county curfew orders with some adaptations, though they are prohibited from regulating juvenile movements during daylight hours. The bill establishes specific procedures for law enforcement when taking a child into custody for curfew violations, including mandating that processing occurs in an unlocked, non-secure area with continuous supervision and a maximum six-hour holding period. Violations of these curfew ordinances would be classified as Class C misdemeanors. Additionally, the bill requires municipalities and counties to review their curfew ordinances every three years through public hearings and make a determination to abolish, continue, or modify the order. The legislation also modifies existing legal definitions, such as adding curfew violations to the definition of "status offenders" and allowing judges to award funds to families involved in curfew violation proceedings. The new law is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and will only apply to offenses committed on or after that date.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1511