85R1641 MK-D     By: Wu H.B. No. 678       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the procedure for the entering of a plea or a   stipulation of evidence by a child subject to a determinate   sentence.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 54.10, Family Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (f) to read as   follows:          (e)  Except as provided by Subsection (f), the [The] hearings   provided by Sections 54.03, 54.04, and 54.05 may not be held before   a referee if the grand jury has approved of the petition and the   child is subject to a determinate sentence.          (f)  When the state and a child who is subject to a   determinate sentence agree to the disposition of the case, wholly   or partly, a referee or associate judge may hold a hearing for the   purpose of allowing the child to enter a plea or stipulation of   evidence.  After the hearing under this subsection, the referee or   associate judge shall transmit the referee's or associate judge's   written findings and recommendations regarding the plea or   stipulation of evidence to the juvenile court judge for   consideration.  The juvenile court judge may accept or reject the   plea or stipulation of evidence in accordance with Section   54.03(j).          SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to   conduct that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act.     Conduct that occurs before the effective date of this Act is   governed by the law in effect on the date the conduct occurred, and   the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.  For   purposes of this section, conduct occurs before the effective date   of this Act if any element of the conduct occurs before that date.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.