Relating to the admissibility of certain hearsay statements in the adjudication of certain sexual or assaultive offenses committed against a child or a person with a disability.
Summary
SB 1019 amends the Texas Family Code provisions governing when certain hearsay statements may be admitted in juvenile court proceedings involving sexual offenses, assaultive offenses, trafficking, prohibited sexual conduct, sexual performance by a child, and compelling prostitution. The bill applies when the alleged victim is a child 18 years of age or younger, rather than the prior 12-year threshold, and also when the alleged victim is a person with a disability.
The bill also updates the definition of “person with a disability” by cross-referencing the Penal Code definition of “disabled individual” in Section 22.04, replacing the older standalone definition in the Family Code. The changes apply only to juvenile court cases that begin on or after September 1, 2025; earlier cases remain governed by prior law.
Impact
The bill expands the scope of Family Code Section 54.031 by broadening victim eligibility from children 12 and under to children 18 and under, which may increase the number of juvenile delinquency cases in which hearsay statements can be considered. It also aligns the disability definition with the Penal Code, creating a more current and consistent statutory reference for cases involving victims with disabilities. Juvenile courts, prosecutors, defense counsel, and child or disability victims in specified sexual and assaultive offense cases are the primary affected parties.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the Senate 30-0 and the House 139-0, with two members present not voting, indicating strong bipartisan agreement. The absence of committee transcript debate suggests no significant public or legislative opposition was recorded in the available materials.
Contention
No notable contention is reflected in the available record. The main policy choice embedded in the bill is the expansion of the protected age group from 12 to 18 and the incorporation of the Penal Code disability definition, but the unanimous votes suggest these changes were not disputed in floor action. Any potential concern would likely center on evidentiary expansion in juvenile cases, but no member or stakeholder objections are documented here.