| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the assessment of an elderly or disabled person's |
|
|
psychological status for purposes of an emergency order authorizing |
|
|
protective services. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 48.208(c-3), Human Resources Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(c-3) An assessment of the elderly or disabled person's |
|
|
psychological status must be performed by a licensed professional |
|
|
counselor, licensed psychologist, or master social worker who has |
|
|
training and expertise in issues related to abuse, neglect, and |
|
|
exploitation. The person performing the assessment shall sign a |
|
|
report stating: |
|
|
(1) that the elderly or disabled person is reported to |
|
|
be suffering from abuse, neglect, or exploitation, which may |
|
|
present a threat to the person's life or physical safety; and |
|
|
(2) that in the professional opinion of the licensed |
|
|
professional counselor, licensed psychologist, or master social |
|
|
worker, as applicable, the issuance of an emergency order |
|
|
authorizing protective services without the elderly or disabled |
|
|
person's consent is necessary under the circumstances. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |