85R1617 MK-D
By: Wu H.B. No. 693
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to medical and psychological assessments and services for
children in the managing conservatorship of the Department of
Family and Protective Services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 266, Family Code, is amended by adding
Section 266.0031 to read as follows:
Sec. 266.0031. INITIAL MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL
ASSESSMENT; SCHEDULING OF SERVICES. (a) The department shall
conduct an initial medical and psychological assessment of a child
not later than the seventh day after the date the child enters the
managing conservatorship of the department, or not later than the
third day after the date the child enters the managing
conservatorship of the department if the child was removed from the
child's home because of an immediate risk of abuse or neglect that
could have resulted in the death of or serious harm to the child.
(b) Following the initial assessments of a child under
Subsection (a), the department may, without court approval,
schedule for the child any preventive treatments, acute medical
services, or therapeutic and rehabilitative care to meet the
child's mental and physical needs. In scheduling treatments,
services, or care under this subsection, the department shall
adhere to the medical services delivery model developed under
Section 266.003.
SECTION 2. Section 266.0031, 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 of Family and Protective Services before the
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the
date the child entered foster care, and the former law is continued
in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.