The elected counsellor must coordinate and monitor certain juvenile justice cases, work with analysts and other monitors, give quarterly reports, and notify the appropriate grand jury in specified situations. The counsellor may also investigate alleged illegal or improper conduct when the stated conditions are met.
Sec. 41.310. DUTIES OF COUNSELLOR. (a) The counsellor elected in accordance with Section 41.309: (1) shall coordinate prosecution issues in and monitor each case involving an offense or delinquent conduct described by Article 104.003(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, that concerns the Texas Juvenile Justice Department; (2) shall work with criminal justice analysts employed by the Legislative Budget Board and other persons who monitor cases involving offenses or delinquent conduct described by Article 104.003(a), Code of Criminal Procedure; and (3) may conduct an investigation of any alleged illegal or improper conduct by Texas Juvenile Justice Department officers, employees, or contractors that the counsellor reasonably believes: (A) jeopardizes the health, safety, and welfare of children in the custody of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department; and (B) could constitute an offense described by Article 104.003(a), Code of Criminal Procedure. (b) In addition to the duties prescribed by Subsection (a), the counsellor shall on a quarterly basis provide the board of directors and the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over matters concerning correctional facilities with a report concerning offenses or delinquent conduct prosecuted by the unit on receiving a request for assistance under Section 241.007, Human Resources Code, or a request for assistance otherwise from a prosecuting attorney. A report under this subsection is public information under Chapter 552, Government Code, and the board of directors shall request that the Texas Juvenile Justice Department publish the report on that department's Internet website. A report must be both aggregated and disaggregated by individual facility and include information relating to: (1) the number of requests for assistance received under Section 241.007, Human Resources Code, and requests for assistance otherwise received from prosecuting attorneys; (2) the number of cases investigated and the number of cases prosecuted; (3) the types and outcomes of cases prosecuted, such as whether the case concerned narcotics or an alleged incident of sexual abuse; and (4) the relationship of a victim to a perpetrator, if applicable. (c) The counsellor, in consultation with the board of directors, shall notify the foreperson of the appropriate grand jury, in the manner provided by Article 20A.051, Code of Criminal Procedure, if: (1) the counsellor receives credible evidence of illegal or improper conduct by Texas Juvenile Justice Department officers, employees, or contractors that the counsellor reasonably believes jeopardizes the health, safety, and welfare of children in the custody of that department; (2) the counsellor reasonably believes the conduct: (A) could constitute an offense described by Article 104.003(a), Code of Criminal Procedure; and (B) involves the alleged physical or sexual abuse of a child in the custody of a Texas Juvenile Justice Department facility or an investigation related to the alleged abuse; and (3) the counsellor has reason to believe that information concerning the conduct has not previously been presented to the appropriate grand jury. Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 263 (S.B. 103), Sec. 14, eff. June 8, 2007. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 85 (S.B. 653), Sec. 3.010, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 734 (H.B. 1549), Sec. 90, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 469 (H.B. 4173), Sec. 2.38, eff. January 1, 2021.