TX SB194

Expands eligibility for juvenile diversion referrals to community resource coordination groups to include children residing in general residential operations (foster care facilities), regardless of age, in addition to the existing provision for children under 12

Requires residential child-care facilities to include crisis response training for emergency behavior intervention in their staff training programs, with the explicit 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 residing in general residential operations, with particular focus on misdemeanor offenses involving violence

Requires juvenile boards to track and monitor data on children referred from general residential operations, including total referrals, disposition outcomes (deferred prosecution or probation referral), and which specific facility the child resided in

Takes effect September 1, 2025, and applies only to conduct occurring on or after that date