HBA-RBT C.S.H.B. 3778 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 3778
By: Luna, Vilma
Human Services
4/9/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

C.S.H.B. 3778 requires the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services, in each administrative region of the state, to employ at least
one child protective services investigations coordinator who is required to
focus on child abuse and neglect investigation issues and the department's
effectiveness in providing for the protection of children.  This bill sets
forth the duties of the investigations coordinator. 

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. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 261, Family Code, by adding
Section 261.3125, as follows: 

Sec.  261.3125.  INVESTIGATIONS COORDINATOR.  Requires the Department of
Protective and Regulatory Services (department), in each administrative
region of the department, to employ at least one child protective services
investigations coordinator who must focus only on child abuse and neglect
investigation issues and on assessing and improving the effectiveness of
the department in providing for the protection of children in the region.
Sets forth the duties of the safety coordinator. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The substitute differs from the original by amending Subchapter D, Chapter
261, Family Code, by adding Section 261.325, rather than amending Section
261.301 by adding Subsection (h).  The position created in the substitute
is that of investigations coordinator, rather than child protective
services safety coordinator.  The coordinator's duties are more fully set
out in the substitute.  The substitute makes conforming and nonsubstantive
changes to the original.