SRC-JBJ H.B. 1715 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1715
76R10613 JRD-DBy: Denny (Carona)
Human Services
5/3/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, any person who has cause to believe that a resident of a nursing
home has been or may be affected by abuse or neglect is required to report
the abuse or neglect.  The contents of the report must include the name and
address of the resident, the name and address of the person responsible for
the care of the resident, if available, and any other relevant information.
However, information relating to the person making the report is not
required by law.  Requiring the person making the report to include his or
her address would permit an investigator to contact the person for any
necessary additional information.  The person's information would be
deleted prior to making the report public.  H.B. 1715 would require that a
person making the report include his or her phone or address. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1715 requires the phone number or address of a person
making certain reports about child abuse or convalescent home abuses to be
noted. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 242.123, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subsection (c), to provide that a report of abuse or neglect under Section
242.122 or of other conduct or conditions under Section 242.1225, except
for certain anonymous reports, should also include the address or phone
number of the person making the report so that an investigator can contact
the person for any necessary additional information.  Requires the phone
number and address as well as the name of the person making the report to
be deleted from any copy of any type of report that is released to the
public, to the institution, or to an owner or agent of the institution. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 242.127, Health and Safety Code, to include the
address and phone number among the items that are confidential in an
investigation under this chapter. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.