Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1543 by Menéndez (Relating to notice requirements regarding the right to record certain interviews conducted by the Department of Family and Protective Services.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Chapter 40 of the Human Resources Code to require Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) employees to orally notify interviewees at the beginning of an interview for any DFPS investigation that the interviewee has the right to make an audio recording of the interview and to obtain written verification from the interviewee that they were notified. It is assumed that the provisions of the bill could be implemented using existing resources. The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds majority vote in each house. Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2019.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.