2017S0418-1 03/07/17
 
  By: Huffman S.B. No. 1806
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to requiring the use of multidisciplinary teams appointed
  by children's advocacy centers in certain child abuse
  investigations.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Section 264.4061 to read as follows:
         Sec. 264.4061.  MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM RESPONSE REQUIRED.
  (a)  The department shall refer cases directly to a center to
  initiate a response by a center's multidisciplinary team appointed
  under Section 264.406 when conducting an investigation of:
               (1)  a report of abuse that is made by a professional as
  defined by Section 261.101 and that:
                     (A)  alleges sexual abuse of a child; or
                     (B)  is a type of case handled by the center in
  accordance with the working protocol adopted for the center under
  Section 264.411(a)(9); or
               (2)  a child fatality in which there are surviving
  children in the deceased child's household or under the supervision
  of the caregiver involved in the child fatality.
         (b)  As part of the investigation under Subsection (a), any
  interview of the child shall be a forensic interview conducted by
  the center in accordance with the center's working protocol unless
  a forensic interview is not appropriate based on the child's age and
  development and the working protocol adopted for the center under
  Section 264.411(a)(9).
         (c)  Subsection (a) applies only to an investigation of abuse
  in a county served by a center that has an interagency memorandum of
  understanding under Section 264.403. If a county is not served by a
  center with an interagency memorandum under Section 264.403, the
  department may refer cases directly to a center in an adjacent
  county to initiate a response by that center's multidisciplinary
  team, if appropriate.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.