Texas Senate Bill SB889

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Relating to collecting and reporting certain information by the Department of Family and Protective Services relating to certain alcohol and controlled substance use.

Impact

The bill proposes an amendment to existing statutes directly involving child welfare, which will require the DFPS to implement a structured mechanism for tracking cases where children test positive for alcohol or controlled substances at birth. Notably, this includes not only the number of affected children but also data on their health outcomes and parental substance use during investigations of abuse or neglect. By requiring annual reports to be submitted to the legislature and made available to the public, SB889 promotes transparency in the handling of these cases.

Summary

Senate Bill 889 pertains to the requirements imposed on the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) regarding the collection and reporting of data related to alcohol and controlled substance use among children within its care. This legislation seeks to enhance the health history documentation for children by mandating that DFPS must include specific details about the birth mother's alcohol consumption and any diagnoses of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Such measures are designed to ensure a clearer understanding of the potential impact of substance exposure on children's health from the outset of their case management.

Contention

Some points of contention may arise from this bill, particularly concerning the resources needed for the DFPS to effectively gather and report this information. Critics might argue that additional reporting requirements could strain the department’s already limited resources, potentially detracting from direct services to children in need. Moreover, there could be debates around privacy concerns regarding how such sensitive information is collected, stored, and shared, especially concerning the data associated with families undergoing investigations.