BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2205

By: Kuempel

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

According to interested parties, the current process by which public and open-enrollment charter school personnel are required to report child abuse or neglect, including child trafficking, could result in a child returning to an abusive environment when instead an immediate response and investigation is warranted. H.B. 2205 seeks to address this issue by requiring school personnel to make such reports to a local or state law enforcement agency as well as to the Department of Family and Protective Services.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2205 amends the Education Code and Family Code to require a public school district or open-enrollment charter school employee who is required to make a report of child abuse or neglect, including a report related to the trafficking of a child, to make a report to both the Department of Family and Protective Services and a local or state law enforcement agency.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.