HBA-RAR H.B. 159 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 159
By: Wise
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
2/9/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, persons having direct responsibility for the care,
custody or welfare of a child who have cause to believe that a child's
physical or mental health or welfare has been adversely affected by abuse
or neglect are required to make a report to an appropriate agency.  H.B.
159 requires any adult who has cause to believe that neglect or abuse has
occurred to make an immediate report to an appropriate agency.  It also
requires the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services to develop
and implement an advertising campaign to increase public awareness of the
new reporting requirements. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 261.101, Family Code,  to require any adult,
rather than a person, who has cause to believe that a child's physical or
mental health or welfare has been adversely affected by abuse or neglect by
any person to make a report immediately as provided in this subchapter.
Defines the term "adult."  Requires the Department of Protective and
Regulatory Services to develop and implement an advertising campaign to
increase public awareness of the reporting requirements provided in this
subchapter. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.