BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                             H.B. 801

                                                                                                                                            By: Uresti

                                                                                                                           Government Reform

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Department of Family and Protective Services personnel receive reports of child abuse and neglect. These personnel must be properly trained to screen incoming calls and designate appropriate priority levels governing response times by law enforcement and department investigative workers. Inadequate responses to reports of abuse or neglect can lead to the death or injury of children. Therefore, it is essential that intake personnel receive proper training to determine the seriousness of incoming reports, and to prioritize the reports accordingly.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. 

 

ANALYSIS

 

This bill requires the department to develop, in cooperation with local law enforcement officials and the Commission on State Emergency Communications, a training program for department personnel who receive reports of abuse and neglect. The training program must include information on the proper methods of screening reports of abuse and neglect and ways to determine the seriousness of reports, including determining whether a report alleges circumstance that could result in the death of or serious harm to a child, or whether the report is less serious in nature.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2005.