(a) This section applies to a child who:
(1) is seven years of age or older and under 17 years of age; and
(2) has not had the disabilities of minority for general purposes removed under Chapter 31, Family Code.
(b) The commission shall operate a program under this section to provide family support services for children in at-risk situations and for the families of those children.

Attorney's Note

Under the Texas Codes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
State jail felonybetween 180 days and 2 yearsup to $10,000
For details, see Texas Penal Code § 12.35

Terms Used In Texas Human Resources Code 137.152

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • 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) The commission may not provide services under this section to a child who has:
(1) at any time been referred to juvenile court for engaging in conduct that violates a penal law of this state of the grade of felony other than a state jail felony; or
(2) been found to have engaged in delinquent conduct under Title 3, Family Code.
(d) The commission may provide services under this section to a child who engages in conduct for which the child may be found by a court to be an at-risk child, without regard to whether the conduct violates a penal law of this state of the grade of felony other than a state jail felony, if the child was younger than 10 years of age at the time the child engaged in the conduct.

Text of subsection effective until January 01, 2025

(e) The commission shall provide services for a child and the child’s family if a contract to provide services under this section is available in the county and the child is referred to the commission as an at-risk child by:
(1) a juvenile court or probation department as part of a progressive sanctions program under Chapter 59, Family Code;
(2) a law enforcement officer or agency under § 52.03, Family Code; or
(3) a justice or municipal court under Article 45.057, 45.309, or 45.310, Code of Criminal Procedure.

Text of subsection effective on January 01, 2025

(e) The commission shall provide services for a child and the child’s family if a contract to provide services under this section is available in the county and the child is referred to the commission as an at-risk child by:
(1) a juvenile court or probation department as part of a progressive sanctions program under Chapter 59, Family Code;
(2) a juvenile court or probation department as part of a progressive sanctions program under Chapter 59, Family Code;
(3) a justice or municipal court under Article 45A.457, 45.309, or 45.310, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(f) The services under this section may include:
(1) crisis family intervention;
(2) emergency short-term residential care for children 10 years of age or older;
(3) family counseling;
(4) parenting skills training;
(5) youth coping skills training;
(6) advocacy training; and
(7) mentoring.