TX HB5561

Expands juvenile diversion eligibility to include children residing in general residential operations (foster care facilities), not just children under 12, allowing referral to community resource coordination groups instead of prosecuting attorneys

Requires residential child-care facilities to include crisis response training for emergency behavior intervention in their behavior intervention programs, with a specific goal of limiting law enforcement involvement

Mandates juvenile boards establish policies prioritizing diversion from prosecution and limiting detention to "last resort" circumstances for both children under 12 and children living in general residential operations

Specifically targets diversion for foster youth alleged to have committed misdemeanor offenses involving violence against a person

Requires juvenile boards to track data on children from general residential operations, including number of referrals, deferred prosecutions, probation referrals, and which facilities the children reside in