HBA-SEP, EDN H.B. 1267 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1267
By: Dukes
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
3/13/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Family Code requires a local law enforcement agency, on receipt of a
report alleging child abuse by a person responsible for the child's care,
to investigate the report jointly with the Department of Protective and
Regulatory Services (DPRS) or another responsible agency.  However, this
provision is not in the Code of Criminal Procedure which many law
enforcement agencies rely on for guidance.  House Bill 1267 amends the Code
of Criminal Procedure to require an investigator from an appropriate local
law enforcement agency, on receipt of a report alleging child abuse, to
investigate the report jointly with the DPRS or another responsible agency. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution.   

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1267 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to require an
investigator from the appropriate local law enforcement agency, on receipt
of a report alleging serious physical or sexual abuse of a child by a
person responsible for the care, custody, or welfare of the child, to
investigate the report jointly with the Department of Protective and
Regulatory Services or with the agency responsible for conducting an
investigation of abuse or neglect in a facility in which children are
located that is operated, licensed, certified, or registered by a state
agency.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.