85R9722 MM-D
 
  By: Moody H.B. No. 2866
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to mental health assessments and the provision of mental
  health services for children in the conservatorship of the
  Department of Family and Protective Services.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Section 264.1077 to read as follows:
         Sec. 264.1077.  MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT. (a) Not later
  than 72 hours after a child enters the conservatorship of the
  department, the department shall have an appropriate medical or
  mental health care professional perform a mental health assessment
  of the child.
         (b)  The department shall ensure that the child receives any
  necessary treatment as indicated by the child's mental health
  assessment, as soon as practicable after the assessment under
  Subsection (a) is complete.
         SECTION 2.  Section 264.1077, Family Code, as added by this
  Act, applies only to a child who enters the conservatorship of the
  Department of Family and Protective Services on or after the
  effective date of this Act.  A child who enters the conservatorship
  of the department before the effective date of this Act is governed
  by the law in effect on the date the child entered the
  conservatorship of the department, and the former law is continued
  in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.