BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1990

By: Wu

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There is currently no system in place for notifying all interested parties when changes are made to a report of an investigation by the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) of a report of child abuse or neglect. These DFPS reports are usually hundreds of pages long and the interested parties are often left unaware of, and unable to locate, any substantial changes or corrections made to a report. This makes it more difficult for these interested parties to help the child as effectively as possible. H.B. 1990 seeks to require notification of any edits or corrections DFPS makes to an investigation to be provided to certain interested parties.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1990 amends the Family Code to require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to notify the following interested parties of any edits or corrections DFPS makes to a written report of an investigation of a report of child abuse or neglect:

·         the child's parent;

·         the attorney for the child's parent if represented by an attorney;

·         an attorney ad litem for the child;

·         a guardian ad litem for the child appointed by a court, including a volunteer advocate; and

·         any other person the court determines has an interest in the child's welfare.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.