Summary: As of 01 September 2023, a new law passed by the Texas state lawmakers bans the practice of juvenile curfew in Texas municipalities. As a result, the City Council has repealed the City's juvenile curfew ordinance 8.02, during the 12 September, 2023 council meeting.
Latest Update: Saturday, 16 September 2023 added article; Monday, 11 September 2023
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Juvenile curfew repealed. Willow Park repeals City juvenile curfew based on new TX state law.
As of 01 September 2023, a new law passed by the Texas state lawmakers bans the practice of juvenile curfew in Texas municipalities. In June 2023, Texas' 88th Texas Legislature passed House Bill 1819, which prohibits a political subdivision from adopting or enforcing an ordinance that imposes a curfew to regulate the movements or actions of person.
• Fort Worth to end curfew for minors ahead of state legislative override, Fort Worth Report, 27 January 2023, Excerpts below.
During the 12 September 2023 Council Meeting, agenda item 7, the council repealed Willow Park Ordinance 8.02 (in .pdf ).
• 7. Discussion/Action: to adopt an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Willow Park, Texas rescinding and repealing article 8.02 minors of the Willow Park Cod of Ordinances which established a juvenile curfew...
• Background: Texas Legislature passed House Bill 1819 that prohibits a political subdivision from adopting or enforcing an ordinance that imposes a curfew to regulate the movements or actions of person.
• Willow Park Civics Notes:
• Meeting video: 23:50
Council question: "Have we ever had to utilize that ordinance?" Chief Franklin answer: We have. I wouldn’t say we used it a lot but we did have curfew violations quite often that we enforced after midnight or 1 or 2 in the morning.
• Willow Park Civics Research
• Legiscan > Status: Passed on June 9 2023 - 100% progression, Action: 2023-06-09 - Effective on 9/1/23
• Added Saturday, 16 September, 2023 Under new law, Texas cities can’t enforce youth curfews – and some say they didn’t work anyway, Fort Worth Report, 13 September 2023 Excerpt.
The bill — unlike similar ones in the past — had the support of lawmakers from both political parties who realized minor curfews aren’t the best policy, Merfish said. Black and Hispanic children are often disproportionately targeted. / “But (it’s) also about liberty and freedom of movement,” Merfish said.
• Fort Worth to end curfew for minors ahead of state legislative override, Fort Worth Report, 27 January 2023, Excerpts.
The move comes after months of debate between council members over the controversial curfew ordinance, which mandates that anyone under 17 has to be home between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Residents expressed concerns that the curfew further criminalizes children of color in Fort Worth after the city released data showing Black youth were disproportionately cited for violations.
Hughes’ bill does not apply to emergency curfews, which cities may enact for management purposes under Chapter 418 of Texas government code. According to the full text of the bill, children with pending curfew citations cannot be prosecuted after its effective date. Children with existing convictions or adjudications, however, will not see their record impacted by the bill.
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