SRC-MKV H.B. 2676 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2676
By: Truitt (Madla)
Health & Human Services
5/11/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

In 1995, the 74th Legislature established child fatality review teams,
which have been influential in promoting positive systemic changes
responsible for a decrease in incidents of child death and an improvement
in the treatment of children by state and local agencies that provide
services and assistance to children. The creation of a similar team to
review domestic violence deaths could help to decrease the number of deaths
which result from domestic violence and provide improved services to
victims. The Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) estimates that
857,745 women were victims of domestic violence during the fiscal year
2000, and yet only 41,203 women, or about five percent of those in need,
received family violence services from DHS that same year. Determining how
a death may have been prevented and identifying ways in which services to
victims are lacking may contribute to decreasing the incidence of deaths
resulting from domestic violence in the future. H.B. 2676 authorizes the
establishment of a domestic violence fatality review team in certain
counties. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Title 4C, Family Code, by adding Chapter 93:

CHAPTER 93.  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITY REVIEW TEAMS

 Sec. 93.001.  DEFINITIONS.

 Sec. 93.002.  ESTABLISHMENT OF REVIEW TEAM; FUNDING.

 Sec. 93.003.  PURPOSE AND DUTIES OF REVIEW TEAM.

 Sec. 93.004.  DUTIES OF PRESIDING OFFICER.

 Sec. 93.005.  REVIEW PROCEDURE.

 Sec. 93.006.  ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

Sec. 93.008.  USE OF RECORDS AND OTHER INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY.

 Sec. 93.009.  STATUS OF REVIEW TEAM FOR PURPOSES OF OTHER LAW. 

 Sec. 93.010.  CIVIL LIABILITY FOR DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION.

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.