By:  Brady                                            H.B. No. 2543
       73R6612 MJW-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the prevention of child abuse and treatment of and
    1-3  advocacy for child abuse victims.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Section 34.05(b), Family Code, is amended to read
    1-6  as follows:
    1-7        (b)  As necessary to complete a thorough investigation, the
    1-8  department or agency shall determine:
    1-9              (1)  the nature, extent, and cause of the abuse or
   1-10  neglect;
   1-11              (2)  the identity of the person responsible for the
   1-12  abuse or neglect;
   1-13              (3)  the names and conditions of the other individuals
   1-14  <children> in the home;
   1-15              (4)  an evaluation of the parents or persons
   1-16  responsible for the care of the child;
   1-17              (5)  the adequacy of the home environment;
   1-18              (6)  the relationship of the child to the parents or
   1-19  persons responsible for the care of the child;
   1-20              (7)  all other pertinent data.
   1-21        SECTION 2.  Section 10, Article 38.071, Code of Criminal
   1-22  Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
   1-23        Sec. 10.  In ordering a child to testify under this article,
   1-24  the court shall take all reasonable steps necessary <and available>
    2-1  to minimize undue psychological trauma to the child and to minimize
    2-2  the emotional and physical stress to the child caused by relevant
    2-3  factors, including the confrontation with the defendant and the
    2-4  ordinary participation of the complainant in the courtroom.
    2-5        SECTION 3.  Section 74.010, Human Resources Code, is amended
    2-6  to read as follows:
    2-7        (b)  The council shall award grants that continue for two
    2-8  years <one year>.  The council may renew a grant not more than two
    2-9  times.
   2-10        SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
   2-11        SECTION 5.  The importance of this legislation and the
   2-12  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-13  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-14  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-15  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.