|
Senate Bill 423 |
Senate Author: Nelson |
|
Effective: 9-1-13 |
House Sponsor: Raymond |
Previous law required the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to establish a flexible response system to allow DFPS to screen out certain less serious cases of abuse and neglect and to administratively close those cases without providing services or making a referral to another entity for assistance. Senate Bill 423 amends the Family Code to require DFPS to conduct an alternative response to a report of abuse or neglect, as prescribed by the bill, if the report does not allege sexual abuse of a child, allege abuse or neglect that caused the death of a child, or indicate a risk of serious physical injury or immediate serious harm to a child. The bill establishes the circumstances under which DFPS is authorized to administratively close a reported case of abuse or neglect without completing the investigation or alternative response and without providing services or making a referral to another entity for assistance and authorizes DFPS to implement the alternative response in one or more DFPS administrative regions before implementing the system statewide.