| 1 | 1 | | 88R13469 AMF-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Gates H.B. No. 4304 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the contents of the annual child fatality report |
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| 8 | 8 | | published by the Department of Family and Protective Services. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 261.204(b), Family Code, is amended to |
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| 11 | 11 | | read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | (b) The report published under Subsection (a) must: |
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| 13 | 13 | | (1) accurately represent all abuse-related and |
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| 14 | 14 | | neglect-related child fatalities in this state, including child |
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| 15 | 15 | | fatalities investigated under Subchapter F, Chapter 264, and other |
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| 16 | 16 | | child fatalities investigated by the department; [and] |
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| 17 | 17 | | (2) aggregate the fatalities by investigative |
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| 18 | 18 | | findings and case disposition, including the following |
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| 19 | 19 | | dispositions: |
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| 20 | 20 | | (A) abuse and neglect ruled out; |
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| 21 | 21 | | (B) unable to determine cause of death; |
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| 22 | 22 | | (C) reason to believe abuse or neglect occurred; |
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| 23 | 23 | | (D) reason to believe abuse or neglect |
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| 24 | 24 | | contributed to child's death; |
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| 25 | 25 | | (E) unable to complete review; and |
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| 26 | 26 | | (F) administrative closure; and |
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| 27 | 27 | | (3) aggregate the fatalities by cause of death, if |
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| 28 | 28 | | determinable, including: |
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| 29 | 29 | | (A) accidental drowning or submersion; |
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| 30 | 30 | | (B) assault by drowning or submersion; |
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| 31 | 31 | | (C) discharge of a firearm; |
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| 32 | 32 | | (D) drug overdose; |
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| 33 | 33 | | (E) assault by other physical means, including |
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| 34 | 34 | | strangulation or suffocation; |
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| 35 | 35 | | (F) accidental suffocation; |
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| 36 | 36 | | (G) exposure to smoke, fire, or flames; |
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| 37 | 37 | | (H) malnutrition; |
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| 38 | 38 | | (I) deprivation of medical care; |
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| 39 | 39 | | (J) motor vehicle accident; |
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| 40 | 40 | | (K) heatstroke caused by being left in a motor |
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| 41 | 41 | | vehicle; or |
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| 42 | 42 | | (L) sudden infant death syndrome. |
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| 43 | 43 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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