Honorable James B. Frank, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2134 by Klick (Relating to health care specialty consultations in certain child abuse or neglect investigations and assessments.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would require any agreement between the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and the provider network or system, to obtain consultations with physicians licensed to practice medicine in the state and be board certified in the relevant field or specialty, to diagnose and treat medical conditions that mimic child maltreatment or increase the risk of misdiagnosis of child maltreatment.
The bill would require DFPS to refer cases for special consultation or forensic assessments to licensed and board certified physicians who were not involved in the report of suspected abuse or neglect.
The bill may not prohibit DFPS from interviewing health care practitioners or restrict DFPS's ability to conduct an investigation.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2019.
Based on the LBB's analysis of DFPS, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
The Department of State Health Services and the University of Texas Systems indicated that the provisions of the bill could be absorbed using existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 537 State Health Services, Department of, 720 The University of Texas System Administration