By: Hull, Frank, Gates H.B. No. 2983
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to medical examinations for certain children entering the
  conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective
  Services.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 264.1076, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (b) and (i) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
  read as follows:
         (b)  The department shall ensure that each child described by
  Subsection (a) receives an initial medical examination from a
  physician or other health care provider authorized under state law
  to conduct medical examinations not later than the end of the third
  business day after the date the child is removed from the child's
  home, if the child:
               (1)  is removed as the result of sexual abuse, physical
  abuse, or an obvious physical injury to the child; or
               (2)  has a known or suspected chronic medical
  condition, [a] medically complex condition, or [a] diagnosed mental
  illness.
         (b-1)  Only children described by Subsections (b)(1) and (2)
  may receive an initial medical examination under Subsection (b).
         (i)  Not later than December 31, 2022 [2019], the department
  shall submit a report to the standing committees of the house of
  representatives and the senate with primary jurisdiction over child
  protective services and foster care evaluating the statewide
  implementation of the medical examination required by this section.
  The report must include for each region of the state:
               (1)  the level of compliance with the requirements of
  this section; and
               (2)  the number of medical examinations conducted under
  Subsection (b) and the reason for each medical examination [in each
  region of the state].
         SECTION 2.  Section 264.1076(b-1), 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 of Family and Protective Services 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, 2021.