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Senate Bill 1578 |
Senate Author: Kolkhorst |
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Effective: 9-1-21 |
House Sponsor: Frank |
Senate Bill 1578 amends the Family Code to revise provisions relating to consultations with the Forensic Assessment Center Network and the Texas Medical Child Abuse Resources and Education System under an agreement with the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to provide assistance in connection with abuse and neglect investigations conducted by DFPS. Among other provisions, the bill prohibits a health care practitioner who makes a report to child protective services from providing expert consultation to DFPS in connection with the investigation resulting from the report and provides for an evaluation of the use of the network by DFPS. In addition, the bill provides that an authorized DFPS representative, a law enforcement officer, or a juvenile probation officer may not take possession of a child in an emergency without a court order in a suit brought by a governmental entity solely on the basis of the opinion of a medical professional under contract with DFPS who did not conduct a physical examination of the child.