COMPLETION OF MINIMUM LENGTH OF STAY; PANEL

(a) After a child who is committed to the department without a determinate sentence completes the minimum length of stay established by the department for the child under Section 243.002 , the department shall, in the manner provided by this section and Section 245.102 :

(1) discharge the child from the custody of the department;

(2) release the child under supervision under Section 245.051 ; or

(3) extend the length of the child's stay in the custody of the department.

(b) The board by rule shall establish a panel whose function is to review and determine whether a child who has completed the child's minimum length of stay should be discharged from the custody of the department as provided by Subsection (a)(1), be released under supervision under Section 245.051 as provided by Subsection (a)(2), or remain in the custody of the department for an additional period of time as provided by Subsection (a)(3).

(c) The executive director shall determine the size of the panel described by Subsection (b) and the length of the members' terms of service on the panel. The panel must consist of an odd number of members and the terms of the panel's members must last for at least two years. The executive director shall adopt policies that ensure the transparency, consistency, and objectivity of the panel's composition, procedures, and decisions. The executive director shall appoint persons to serve as members of the panel. A person appointed to the panel must be a department employee. A member of the panel may not be involved in any determination under this chapter concerning a child in the custody of the department for whom that panel member has made a supervisory decision. Transferred, redesignated and amended from Human Resources Code, Subchapter F, Chapter 61 by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 85 (S.B. 653 ), Sec. 1.007, eff. September 1, 2011. Amended by: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1098 (H.B. 4263 ), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2025.