85R9722 MM-D
By: Moody H.B. No. 2866
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to mental health assessments and the provision of mental
health services for children in the conservatorship of the
Department of Family and Protective Services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
amended by adding Section 264.1077 to read as follows:
Sec. 264.1077. MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT. (a) Not later
than 72 hours after a child enters the conservatorship of the
department, the department shall have an appropriate medical or
mental health care professional perform a mental health assessment
of the child.
(b) The department shall ensure that the child receives any
necessary treatment as indicated by the child's mental health
assessment, as soon as practicable after the assessment under
Subsection (a) is complete.
SECTION 2. Section 264.1077, 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 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, 2017.