HBA-NLM H.B. 2046 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2046
By: Wise
Appropriations
4/8/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

A statewide study, mandated by the75th Texas Legislature, assessed the
quality of training available to many professionals in Texas who have
direct contact with children.  The study proposed that the quality of
training, specifically in the area of diagnosing and preventing child abuse
and neglect, was inadequate.  The study was coordinated by the Children's
Trust Fund of Texas Council (council), which advocates prevention of child
abuse and neglect. This bill proposes to provide education training in the
detection, investigation, and documentation of cases of child abuse and
neglect, through a joint effort by the Texas Commission on Law Officer
Enforcement Standards and Education (commission) and the council. 

H.B. 2046 authorizes the legislature to appropriate money from the
compensation to victims of crime fund to the commission to pay the expenses
of developing and providing to law enforcement officers courses and
programs for training in the detection, investigation, and documentation of
cases of child abuse and neglect. The Crime Victims' Compensation Fund,
established in 1979, is funded through the collection of fines and state
court costs paid by persons convicted of felonies, Class A, B, and C
misdemeanors, and violations of municipal ordinances.  

In addition, H.B. 2046 authorizes the council to award grants to fund
education and training programs regarding the detection, investigation, and
documentation of cases of child abuse and neglect that are provided to
professional individuals who are in frequent contact with children,
including teachers, day-care providers, law enforcement personnel, and
health care providers. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Reenacts and amends Article 56.54(b), Code of Criminal
Procedure, as amended by Chapters 1042 and 1434, Acts of the 75th
Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, to include an exception provided by
Article 56.541(j).  

SECTION 2.  Amends Article 56.54, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding
Subsection (j), as follows: 

(j)  Authorizes the legislature to appropriate money in the compensation to
victims of crime fund to the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer
Standards and Education to pay the expenses of developing and providing to
law enforcement officers courses and programs, for training in the
detection, investigation, and documentation of cases of child abuse and
neglect as required by Section 415.032 (Curriculum), Government Code. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 74.010(a), Human Resources Code, to authorize
the Children's Trust Fund of Texas Council (council) to award grants, from
funds appropriated to the council under Article 56.541 (Appropriation of
Excess Money for Other Crime Victim Assistance), Code of Criminal
Procedure, to fund education and training programs regarding the detection,
investigation, and documentation of cases of child abuse and neglect that
are provided to professional individuals  who are in frequent contact with
children, including teachers, day-care providers, law enforcement
personnel, and health care providers. 

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.