BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1063

By: Perry

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties have expressed a need for consistency regarding the authority of the Department of Family and Protective Services to conduct home visits as part of investigations of certain reports of child abuse or neglect. S.B. 1063 seeks to provide this consistency by creating an exception to the authorization for an investigation of an anonymous report of child abuse or neglect to include a visit to the child's home if the alleged abuse or neglect can be confirmed or clearly ruled out without visiting the child's home.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

S.B. 1063 amends the Family Code to create an exception to the authorization for an investigation of an anonymous report received by the Department of Family and Protective Services of child abuse or neglect by a person responsible for the child's care, custody, or welfare to include a visit to the child's home if the alleged abuse or neglect can be confirmed or clearly ruled out without a home visit.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.