Texas Family Code
§ 55.04 — FORENSIC MENTAL EXAMINATION
FA § 55.04Title 3. JUVENILE JUSTICE CODE · Ch. 55. PROCEEDINGS CONCERNING CHILDREN WITH MENTAL ILLNESS OR INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY · Art. A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Statute text
View on source(a)In this section, "forensic mental examination" means an examination by a disinterested physician or psychologist to determine if a child who is alleged by petition or found to have engaged in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision is a child with mental illness, is unfit to proceed in juvenile court due to mental illness or an intellectual disability, or lacks responsibility for conduct due to mental illness or an intellectual disability.
(b)A juvenile court may order a forensic mental examination if the court determines that probable cause exists to believe that a child who is alleged by petition or found to have engaged in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision is a child with mental illness, is unfit to proceed in juvenile court due to mental illness or an intellectual disability, or lacks responsibility for conduct due to mental illness or an intellectual disability.
(c)To qualify for appointment as an expert under this chapter, a physician or psychologist must:
(1)as appropriate, be a physician licensed in this state or be a psychologist licensed in this state who has a doctoral degree in psychology; and
(2)have the following certification or training:
(A)as appropriate, certification by:
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Legislative history
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1166 (S.B. 1585), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2023.