By Zaffirini S.B. No. 224 74R1427 MJW-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to reports of domestic violence. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Title 4, Family Code, is amended by adding 1-5 Chapter 73 to read as follows: 1-6 CHAPTER 73. REPORTING FAMILY VIOLENCE 1-7 Sec. 73.01. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: 1-8 (1) "Family violence" has the meaning assigned by 1-9 Section 71.01. 1-10 (2) "Medical professional" means a licensed doctor, 1-11 nurse, or emergency medical technician. 1-12 Sec. 73.02. REPORTING BY WITNESSES ENCOURAGED. A person who 1-13 witnesses family violence is encouraged to report the family 1-14 violence to a local law enforcement agency. 1-15 Sec. 73.03. REPORTING BY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS REQUIRED. A 1-16 medical professional who treats a person for injuries that the 1-17 medical professional has reason to believe were caused by family 1-18 violence shall report the suspected family violence to a local law 1-19 enforcement agency. 1-20 Sec. 73.04. IMMUNITY. (a) Except as provided by Subsection 1-21 (b), a person who reports family violence under this chapter is 1-22 immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be 1-23 incurred or imposed. 1-24 (b) A person who reports the person's own conduct or who 2-1 otherwise reports family violence in bad faith is not protected 2-2 from liability under this section. 2-3 Sec. 73.05. APPLICATION OF CHAPTER. This chapter does not 2-4 affect a duty to report child abuse under Chapter 34. 2-5 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995. 2-6 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-7 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-8 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-9 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-10 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.