Texas House Bill HB2071

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 1/24/25
• Out of House Committee: 4/7/25
• Voted on by House: 5/7/25
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/19/25
• Voted on by Senate: 5/20/25
• Governor Action: 6/20/25

Caption

Relating to certain policies and procedures for health care specialty consultations in certain child abuse or neglect investigations and assessments.

Impact

The bill's provisions are set to significantly affect how child abuse cases are handled within the state. By mandating that referrals for specialty consultations only be made to physicians who were not involved in the initial abuse report or assessments, HB2071 aims to prevent potential conflicts of interest, thus bolstering the credibility of the evaluations provided. Additionally, it reinforces the rights of parents or guardians by enabling them to obtain necessary records to seek alternative opinions, thereby promoting a more balanced approach to child welfare investigations.

Summary

House Bill 2071 aims to establish certain policies and procedures related to health care specialty consultations in child abuse or neglect investigations. The bill introduces amendments to Section 261.3017 of the Family Code and emphasizes the necessity for a blind peer review process for assessments involving cases of suspected abuse or neglect. Importantly, it ensures that parents or legal guardians of affected children have access to all relevant medical records at various stages of the investigative process, with the intention of improving the fairness and transparency of these critical legal and medical evaluations.

Sentiment

The sentiment regarding HB 2071 appears to be largely supportive among healthcare and legal professionals who see value in enhancing the integrity of investigations into child abuse. Advocates argue that the bill lays important groundwork for protecting the rights of families while ensuring that the assessments made are unbiased and thorough. However, there may also be voices of concern regarding the logistics and practicality of implementing these procedures efficiently, given the complexities involved in such investigations.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB 2071 focus on the operational challenges that may arise from its implementation. Some stakeholders have raised questions about the adequacy of resources and training required for practitioners to adapt to the new regulations, especially relating to the peer review process. Furthermore, there is ongoing discourse about balancing the need for thorough investigations with the speed and efficacy of care provided to children suspected to be in harmful situations, highlighting the ongoing challenges within the child welfare and legal systems.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Family Code

• Chapter 261. Investigation Of Report Of Child Abuse Or Neglect
  • Section: 3017
  • Section: 30175
  • Section: 3017
  • Section: 30175
  • Section: 3017
  • Section: 30175
  • Section: 3017
  • Section: 30175
  • Section: 3017
  • Section: 30175
  • Section: 3017
  • Section: 30175
  • Section: 3017
  • Section: 30175