BILL ANALYSIS C.S.S.B. 224 By: Zaffirini Criminal Justice 5-1-95 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND Medical professionals are in a position to report domestic violence and in some cases, are the first with the ability to report the crime. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.S.B. 224 requires certain persons to report domestic violence and provides legal protection for persons who report such violence. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Title 4, Family Code, by adding Chapter 73, as follows: CHAPTER 73. REPORTING FAMILY VIOLENCE Sec. 73.01. DEFINITIONS. Defines "family violence" and "medical professional." Sec. 73.02. REPORTING BY WITNESSES ENCOURAGED. Provides that a person who witnesses family violence is encouraged to report the family violence to a local law enforcement agency. Sec. 73.03. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. Requires a medical professional who treats a person for injuries that the medical professional has reason to believe were caused by family violence to immediately provide the person with information regarding the nearest family violence shelter-center; and document in the person's medical file certain information. Sets forth the form of the written notice the medical professional is required to give the person, which is to be in both English and Spanish. Sec. 73.04. IMMUNITY. (a) Grants immunity from civil or criminal liability to a person who reports family violence or provides information under Section 73.03. (b) Provides that a person who reports the person's own conduct or reports family violence in bad faith is not protected from liability. Sec. 73.05. APPLICATION OF CHAPTER. Provides that this chapter does not affect a duty to report child abuse under Chapter 34. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1995. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.