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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of services by the Department of Family |
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and Protective Services, including child protective services and |
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prevention and early intervention services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 49.10, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (i-1) to read as follows: |
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(i-1) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, if the |
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deceased was a child younger than six years of age whose death is |
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determined under Section 264.514, Family Code, to be unexpected or |
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the result of abuse or neglect, a justice of the peace must order a |
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complete autopsy of the deceased. |
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SECTION 2. Section 9(a), Article 49.25, Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) If the cause of death shall be determined beyond a |
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reasonable doubt as a result of the investigation, the medical |
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examiner shall file a report thereof setting forth specifically the |
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cause of death with the district attorney or criminal district |
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attorney, or in a county in which there is no district attorney or |
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criminal district attorney with the county attorney, of the county |
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in which the death occurred. If in the opinion of the medical |
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examiner an autopsy is necessary, or if such is requested by the |
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district attorney or criminal district attorney, or county attorney |
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where there is no district attorney or criminal district attorney, |
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the autopsy shall be immediately performed by the medical examiner |
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or a duly authorized deputy. In those cases where a complete |
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autopsy is deemed unnecessary by the medical examiner to ascertain |
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the cause of death, the medical examiner may perform a limited |
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autopsy involving the taking of blood samples or any other samples |
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of body fluids, tissues or organs, in order to ascertain the cause |
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of death or whether a crime has been committed. If the deceased was |
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a child younger than six years of age and the death is determined |
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under Section 264.514, Family Code, to be unexpected or the result |
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of abuse or neglect, the medical examiner shall perform a complete |
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autopsy. In the case of a body of a human being whose identity is |
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unknown, the medical examiner may authorize such investigative and |
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laboratory tests and processes as are required to determine its |
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identity as well as the cause of death. In performing an autopsy |
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the medical examiner or authorized deputy may use the facilities of |
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any city or county hospital within the county or such other |
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facilities as are made available. Upon completion of the autopsy, |
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the medical examiner shall file a report setting forth the findings |
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in detail with the office of the district attorney or criminal |
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district attorney of the county, or if there is no district attorney |
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or criminal district attorney, with the county attorney of the |
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county. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 261, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 261.2031 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 261.2031. DESIGNATED CHILD FATALITY INVESTIGATION |
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CASEWORKERS. The department shall designate caseworkers or create |
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a specialized unit of department employees to conduct |
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investigations involving child fatalities. Caseworkers or |
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employees designated for child fatality investigations shall be |
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assigned based on experience and length of time working for the |
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department. |
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SECTION 4. Section 261.301, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (j) to read as follows: |
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(j) In geographic areas with demonstrated need, the |
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department shall designate employees to serve specifically as |
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investigators and responders for after-hours reports of child abuse |
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or neglect. |
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SECTION 5. Section 264.107, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (b-2) to read as follows: |
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(b-2) The department shall, subject to the availability of |
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funds, use a web-based system to assist the department in making the |
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best placement decision for a child in foster care. The system must: |
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(1) recommend a level of care for the child; |
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(2) suggest placements based on the child's needs; |
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(3) display the proximity of potential providers to |
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the child's home; |
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(4) incorporate foster care provider preferences; |
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(5) provide access to the foster care provider's |
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history in providing safe and stable placements for children; and |
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(6) include any other provider information the |
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department determines to be relevant. |
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SECTION 6. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 264.1131 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 264.1131. FOSTER CARE PROVIDER RECRUITMENT PLAN. In |
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addition to foster parent recruitment from faith-based |
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organizations under Section 264.113, the department shall, subject |
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to the availability of funds, collaborate with current foster and |
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adoptive parents to develop and implement a foster care provider |
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recruitment plan. The plan must: |
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(1) identify geographic areas in the state where there |
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is a need for foster care providers using risk stratification |
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modeling or risk assessments of geographic areas with high |
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occurrences of child abuse and neglect or child fatalities; |
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(2) use data analysis, social media, partnerships with |
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faith-based and volunteer organizations, and other strategies for |
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recruitment, including targeted and child-focused recruitment; |
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(3) increase the number of available foster care |
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providers for children with high needs and expand the use of |
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therapeutic or treatment foster care for children in those |
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placements; |
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(4) require the provision of: |
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(A) quality customer service to prospective and |
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current foster and adoptive parents; and |
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(B) assistance to prospective foster parents |
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with the certification and placement process; |
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(5) include strategies for increasing the number of |
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kinship providers; |
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(6) include strategies to ensure that children in |
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foster care do not have to transfer schools after entering foster |
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care, unless transferring is in the child's best interest; and |
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(7) include programs to support foster and adoptive |
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families, including programs that provide training, respite care, |
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and peer assistance. |
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SECTION 7. Subchapter C, Chapter 264, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 264.2012 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 264.2012. FAMILY PRESERVATION SERVICES. The |
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department shall implement an evidence-based program that provides |
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frequent in-home visits with families who have a history of child |
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abuse or neglect or who display risk factors for child abuse or |
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neglect with the goal of improving family preservation and family |
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reunification. The program must contain guidelines for the |
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frequency of monthly contact by the department with the family, |
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based on the risk factors for child abuse and neglect in each case. |
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SECTION 8. Sections 264.502(a) and (b), Family Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The child fatality review team committee is composed of: |
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(1) a person appointed by and representing the state |
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registrar of vital statistics; |
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(2) a person appointed by and representing the |
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commissioner of the department; |
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(3) a person appointed by and representing the Title V |
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director of the Department of State Health Services; [and] |
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(4) a person appointed by and representing the speaker |
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of the house of representatives; |
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(5) a person appointed by and representing the |
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lieutenant governor; |
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(6) a person appointed by and representing the |
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governor; and |
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(7) individuals selected under Subsection (b). |
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(b) The members of the committee who serve under Subsections |
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(a)(1) through (6) [(3)] shall select the following additional |
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committee members: |
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(1) a criminal prosecutor involved in prosecuting |
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crimes against children; |
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(2) a sheriff; |
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(3) a justice of the peace; |
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(4) a medical examiner; |
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(5) a police chief; |
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(6) a pediatrician experienced in diagnosing and |
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treating child abuse and neglect; |
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(7) a child educator; |
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(8) a child mental health provider; |
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(9) a public health professional; |
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(10) a child protective services specialist; |
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(11) a sudden infant death syndrome family service |
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provider; |
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(12) a neonatologist; |
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(13) a child advocate; |
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(14) a chief juvenile probation officer; |
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(15) a child abuse prevention specialist; |
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(16) a representative of the Department of Public |
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Safety; |
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(17) a representative of the Texas Department of |
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Transportation; |
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(18) an emergency medical services provider; and |
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(19) a provider of services to, or an advocate for, |
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victims of family violence. |
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SECTION 9. Section 264.503, Family Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (d) and (e) and adding Subsection (h) to read |
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as follows: |
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(d) The Department of State Health Services shall: |
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(1) recognize the creation and participation of review |
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teams; |
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(2) promote and coordinate training to assist the |
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review teams in carrying out their duties; |
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(3) assist the committee in developing model protocols |
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for: |
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(A) the reporting and investigating of child |
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fatalities for law enforcement agencies, child protective |
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services, justices of the peace and medical examiners, and other |
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professionals involved in the investigations of child deaths; |
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(B) the collection of data regarding child |
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deaths; and |
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(C) the operation of the review teams; |
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(4) develop and implement procedures necessary for the |
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operation of the committee; [and] |
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(5) develop and implement training for justices of the |
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peace and medical examiners regarding inquests in child death |
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cases; and |
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(6) promote education of the public regarding the |
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incidence and causes of child deaths, the public role in preventing |
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child deaths, and specific steps the public can undertake to |
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prevent child deaths. |
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(e) In addition to the duties under Subsection (d), the |
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Department of State Health Services shall: |
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(1) collect data under this subchapter and coordinate |
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the collection of data under this subchapter with other data |
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collection activities; [and] |
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(2) perform annual statistical studies of the |
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incidence and causes of child fatalities using the data collected |
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under this subchapter; and |
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(3) evaluate the available child fatality data and use |
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the data to create public health strategies for the prevention of |
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child fatalities. |
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(h) Each member of the committee must be a member of the |
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child fatality review team in the county where the committee member |
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resides. |
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SECTION 10. Subchapter F, Chapter 264, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 264.5031 and 264.5032 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 264.5031. COLLECTION OF NEAR FATALITY DATA. (a) The |
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Department of State Health Services shall develop a definition for |
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the term "near fatality" to allow for statewide consistency in |
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child fatality investigations. |
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(b) The Department of State Health Services shall include |
|
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near fatality child abuse or neglect cases in the child fatality |
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case database, for cases in which child abuse or neglect is |
|
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determined to have been the cause of the near fatality. The |
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Department of State Health Services must also develop a data |
|
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collection strategy for near fatality child abuse or neglect cases. |
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Sec. 264.5032. TRACKING OF CHILD FATALITY AND NEAR FATALITY |
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DATA. (a) The department shall track and analyze data relating to |
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child fatality and near fatality cases resulting from child abuse |
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or neglect and produce a report containing the following |
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information: |
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(1) any prior contact the department had with the |
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child's family and the manner in which the case was disposed, |
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including cases in which the department made the following |
|
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dispositions: |
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(A) priority none or administrative closure; |
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(B) call screened out; |
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(C) alternative or differential response |
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provided; |
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(D) unable to complete the investigation; |
|
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(E) unable to determine whether abuse or neglect |
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occurred; |
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(F) reason to believe abuse or neglect occurred; |
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or |
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(G) child removed and placed into substitute |
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care; |
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(2) for any case investigated by the department |
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involving the child or the child's family: |
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(A) the number of caseworkers assigned to the |
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case before the fatality or near fatality occurred; |
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(B) the level of education for each caseworker |
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assigned to the case and the caseworker's employment tenure; and |
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(C) the caseworker's caseload at the time the |
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case was opened and at the time the case was closed; |
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(3) for any case in which the department investigation |
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concluded that there was reason to believe that abuse or neglect |
|
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occurred, and the family was referred to family-based safety |
|
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services: |
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(A) the safety plan provided to the family; |
|
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(B) the services offered to the family; and |
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(C) the level of compliance with the safety plan |
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or completion of the services by the family; |
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(4) the number of contacts the department made with |
|
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children and families in family-based safety services cases; and |
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(5) the initial and attempted contacts the department |
|
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made with child abuse and neglect victims. |
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(b) The department shall make the data collected under |
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Subsection (a) available to allow research into the determining |
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factors related to child abuse fatalities, with the purpose of: |
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(1) reducing child fatalities or near fatalities and |
|
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repeated referrals of a child or family to the department; and |
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(2) predicting future occurrences of child fatalities |
|
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and near fatalities to improve prevention and early intervention |
|
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strategies. |
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SECTION 11. Sections 264.505(a) and (c), Family Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A multidisciplinary and multiagency child fatality |
|
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review team may be established for a county to review child deaths |
|
|
in that county. A [review team for a] county [with a population of
|
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less than 50,000] may join with an adjacent county or counties to |
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|
establish a combined review team. |
|
|
(c) A review team must reflect the diversity of the county's |
|
|
population and may include: |
|
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(1) a criminal prosecutor involved in prosecuting |
|
|
crimes against children; |
|
|
(2) a sheriff; |
|
|
(3) a justice of the peace or medical examiner; |
|
|
(4) a police chief; |
|
|
(5) a pediatrician experienced in diagnosing and |
|
|
treating child abuse and neglect; |
|
|
(6) a child educator; |
|
|
(7) a child mental health provider; |
|
|
(8) a public health professional; |
|
|
(9) a child protective services specialist; |
|
|
(10) a sudden infant death syndrome family service |
|
|
provider; |
|
|
(11) a neonatologist; |
|
|
(12) a child advocate; |
|
|
(13) a chief juvenile probation officer; and |
|
|
(14) a child abuse prevention specialist. |
|
|
SECTION 12. Section 264.506(b), Family Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
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(b) To achieve its purpose, a review team shall: |
|
|
(1) adapt and implement, according to local needs and |
|
|
resources, the model protocols developed by the department and the |
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committee; |
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(2) meet on a regular basis to review child fatality |
|
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cases and recommend methods to improve coordination of services and |
|
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investigations between agencies that are represented on the team; |
|
|
(3) collect and maintain data as required by the |
|
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committee; [and] |
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(4) review and analyze the collected data to identify |
|
|
any demographic trends in child fatality cases, including whether |
|
|
there is a disproportionate number of child fatalities in a |
|
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particular population group or geographic area; and |
|
|
(5) submit to the vital statistics unit data reports |
|
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on deaths reviewed as specified by the committee. |
|
|
SECTION 13. Section 264.509, Family Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: |
|
|
(b-1) The Department of State Health Services shall provide |
|
|
a review team with electronic access to the preliminary death |
|
|
certificate for a deceased child. |
|
|
SECTION 14. (a) Section 264.514, Family Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b) to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
(a-1) The commissioners court of a county shall adopt |
|
|
regulations relating to the timeliness for conducting an inquest |
|
|
into the death of a child. The regulations adopted under this |
|
|
subsection must be as stringent as the standards issued by the |
|
|
National Association of Medical Examiners unless the commissioners |
|
|
court determines that it would be cost prohibitive for the county to |
|
|
comply with those standards. |
|
|
(b) The medical examiner or justice of the peace shall |
|
|
immediately notify an appropriate local law enforcement agency if |
|
|
the medical examiner or justice of the peace determines that the |
|
|
death is unexpected or the result of abuse or neglect, and that |
|
|
agency shall investigate the child's death. The medical examiner or |
|
|
justice of the peace shall notify the appropriate county child |
|
|
fatality review team of the child's death not later than the 120th |
|
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day after the date the death is reported. |
|
|
(b) A county must attempt to implement the timeliness |
|
|
standards for inquests as described by Section 264.514(a-1), Family |
|
|
Code, as added by this Act, as soon as possible after the effective |
|
|
date of this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 15. Section 264.755, Family Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: |
|
|
(b-1) The executive commissioner by rule may set the maximum |
|
|
monetary payment amount that may, subject to an appropriation of |
|
|
funds for that purpose, be provided to a relative or designated |
|
|
caregiver under this section in an amount not to exceed the amount |
|
|
that the department would pay to a licensed foster care provider for |
|
|
the care of the child. |
|
|
SECTION 16. Section 264.903, Family Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
|
|
(a-1) The department shall expedite the evaluation of a |
|
|
potential caregiver under this section to ensure that the child is |
|
|
placed with a caregiver who has the ability to protect the child |
|
|
from the alleged perpetrator of abuse or neglect against the child. |
|
|
SECTION 17. (a) Subchapter L, Chapter 264, Family Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 264.907 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 264.907. CAREGIVER ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT. (a) The |
|
|
department may, subject to the availability of funds, enter into a |
|
|
caregiver assistance agreement with a caregiver to provide monetary |
|
|
assistance and additional support services to the caregiver. The |
|
|
monetary assistance and support services must be based on the |
|
|
caregiver's and child's needs, as determined by rules adopted by the |
|
|
executive commissioner. |
|
|
(b) The department may agree to provide to a caregiver in an |
|
|
agreement under this section any monetary assistance or additional |
|
|
support services that may be provided in a caregiver assistance |
|
|
agreement under Section 264.755. |
|
|
(b) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
|
|
Services Commission shall adopt the rules necessary to implement |
|
|
Section 264.907, Family Code, as added by this Act, not later than |
|
|
December 1, 2017. |
|
|
SECTION 18. Section 265.005, Family Code, is amended by |
|
|
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (f) to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
(b) A strategic plan required under this section must: |
|
|
(1) identify methods to leverage other sources of |
|
|
funding or provide support for existing community-based prevention |
|
|
efforts; |
|
|
(2) include a needs assessment that identifies |
|
|
programs to best target the needs of the highest risk populations |
|
|
and geographic areas; |
|
|
(3) identify the goals and priorities for the |
|
|
department's overall prevention efforts; |
|
|
(4) report the results of previous prevention efforts |
|
|
using available information in the plan; |
|
|
(5) identify additional methods of measuring program |
|
|
effectiveness and results or outcomes; |
|
|
(6) identify methods to collaborate with other state |
|
|
agencies on prevention efforts; [and] |
|
|
(7) identify specific strategies to implement the plan |
|
|
and to develop measures for reporting on the overall progress |
|
|
toward the plan's goals; and |
|
|
(8) include annual targets that increase each year for |
|
|
the number of families receiving prevention and early intervention |
|
|
services, with the initial goal of providing services to 50 percent |
|
|
of the highest risk families that are eligible to receive services |
|
|
through home visiting and community-based programs financed with |
|
|
federal, state, local, or private resources. |
|
|
(f) In this section, "highest risk family" means a family |
|
|
that has children five years of age or younger and whose family |
|
|
income is at or below 50 percent of the federal poverty level. |
|
|
SECTION 19. Subchapter A, Chapter 265, Family Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Sections 265.007 and 265.008 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 265.007. IMPROVING PROVISION OF PREVENTION AND EARLY |
|
|
INTERVENTION SERVICES. To improve the effectiveness and delivery |
|
|
of prevention and early intervention services, the department |
|
|
shall: |
|
|
(1) use a geographic focus to ensure that prevention |
|
|
and early intervention services are provided to families with the |
|
|
greatest need; |
|
|
(2) identify the geographic areas that have the |
|
|
highest need for prevention and early intervention services using: |
|
|
(A) verified external risk terrain modeling; or |
|
|
(B) geographic risk assessments that use risk |
|
|
indicators of child abuse or neglect and child abuse fatalities; |
|
|
(3) identify geographic areas that have a high need |
|
|
for prevention and early intervention services but do not have |
|
|
prevention and early intervention services available in the area or |
|
|
have only unevaluated prevention and early intervention services |
|
|
available in the area; and |
|
|
(4) develop strategies for community partners to: |
|
|
(A) improve the early recognition of child abuse |
|
|
or neglect; |
|
|
(B) improve the reporting of child abuse and |
|
|
neglect; and |
|
|
(C) prevent child fatalities. |
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Sec. 265.008. EVALUATION OF PREVENTION AND EARLY |
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INTERVENTION SERVICES. (a) The department and the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board shall enter into agreements with |
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institutions of higher education to conduct efficacy reviews of any |
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prevention and early intervention services provided under this |
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chapter that have not previously been evaluated for effectiveness |
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in a research evaluation that meets the standards described by |
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Subsection (b). The efficacy review shall include, when possible, a |
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cost-benefit analysis of the program to the state. |
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(b) A prevention and early intervention services program is |
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considered to have been previously evaluated if it has been |
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evaluated by at least one rigorous randomized controlled research |
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trial across heterogeneous populations or communities, the results |
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of at least one of which has been published in a peer-reviewed |
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journal. |
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(c) The department is not required to enter into an |
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agreement to conduct a program efficacy evaluation under this |
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section unless: |
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(1) the department is specifically appropriated money |
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for the purposes of this section; or |
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(2) the agreement with the institution of higher |
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education is cost neutral. |
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SECTION 20. Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 40.038 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 40.038. SECONDARY TRAUMA SUPPORT FOR CASEWORKERS. (a) |
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In this section, "secondary trauma" means trauma incurred as a |
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consequence of a person's exposure to acute or chronic trauma. |
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(b) The department shall develop and make available a |
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program to provide ongoing support to caseworkers who experience |
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secondary trauma resulting from exposure to trauma in the course of |
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the caseworker's employment. The program must include critical |
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incident stress debriefing. The department may not require that a |
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caseworker participate in the program. |
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SECTION 21. Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 40.0529 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 40.0529. CASELOAD MANAGEMENT. (a) Subject to a |
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specific appropriation for that purpose, the department shall |
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develop and implement a caseload management system for child |
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protective services caseworkers and managers that: |
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(1) ensures equity in the distribution of workload, |
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based on the complexity of each case; |
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(2) calculates caseloads based on the number of |
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individual caseworkers who are available to handle cases; |
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(3) includes geographic case assignment in areas with |
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concentrated high risk populations, to ensure that an adequate |
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number of caseworkers and managers with expertise and specialized |
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training are available; |
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(4) includes a plan to deploy master investigators in |
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anticipation of emergency shortages of personnel; and |
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(5) anticipates vacancies in caseworker positions in |
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areas of the state with high caseworker turnover to ensure the |
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timely hiring of new caseworkers in those areas. |
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(b) In calculating the caseworker caseload under Subsection |
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(a)(2), the department: |
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(1) may not count caseworkers who are on leave for four |
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weeks or more as available caseworkers; |
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(2) may not create fictive caseworkers to compensate |
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for overtime hours worked by caseworkers; and |
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(3) shall only count caseworkers who are on reduced |
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caseloads at a value of .3 or less. |
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SECTION 22. Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 40.078 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 40.078. PREVENTION ADVISORY BOARD. (a) In this |
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section, "board" means the Prevention Advisory Board. |
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(b) The board is established in the department to promote |
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public awareness and make recommendations to the Health and Human |
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Services Commission, the Department of State Health Services, the |
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department, the governor, and the legislature for changes to law, |
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policy, and practices regarding: |
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(1) the prevention of child abuse and neglect; |
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(2) the development of a state strategy to promote |
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child safety and well-being using enhanced data collection and |
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analysis; and |
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(3) the expansion of evidence-based and promising |
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practice programs, as those terms are described by Sections |
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531.983(b) and (c), Government Code. |
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(c) The board is composed of not more than 25 members, |
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appointed as follows: |
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(1) one member appointed by the governor from the |
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governor's staff; |
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(2) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor |
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from the lieutenant governor's staff; |
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(3) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of |
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representatives from the speaker's staff; |
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(4) one staff member from the Senate Health and Human |
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Services Committee; |
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(5) one staff member from the House Public Health |
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Committee; and |
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(6) any remaining members appointed by the |
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commissioner. |
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(d) The members appointed under Subsections (c)(1) through |
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(5) serve as ex officio nonvoting members of the board. |
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(e) In appointing members to the board, the commissioner |
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shall attempt to select individuals whose qualifications are not |
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already represented by existing members of the board. Board |
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members must include: |
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(1) a chair of a child fatality review team committee; |
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(2) a pediatrician; |
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(3) a judge; |
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(4) representatives of relevant state agencies; |
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(5) prosecutors who specialize in child abuse and |
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neglect; |
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(6) medical examiners; |
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(7) representatives of service providers to the |
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department; and |
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(8) policy experts in child abuse and neglect |
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prevention, community advocacy, or related fields. |
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(f) The board shall select a chair from among its members |
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and shall meet at least quarterly, with additional meetings called |
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by the chair as necessary. |
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(g) A vacancy on the board shall be filled in the same manner |
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as the original appointment. |
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(h) A member of the board is not entitled to compensation or |
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reimbursement of expenses incurred in performing board duties. |
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(i) The board may take testimony and receive evidence that |
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the board considers necessary to carry out the duties of the board. |
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(j) In developing the recommendations under Subsection (b), |
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the board shall collaborate with the prevention and early |
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intervention services division of the department to: |
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(1) use a public health approach by applying |
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population-based, universal, and targeted strategies for |
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prevention; |
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(2) consider the evidence-based and promising |
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practice programs for home visiting under Section 531.983, |
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Government Code, and parent education under Section 265.101, Family |
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Code, as added by Chapter 1257 (H.B. 2630), Acts of the 84th |
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Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, in structuring accountability |
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and evidence-based measures for child abuse fatality prevention |
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programming; |
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(3) maximize funding sources to expand prevention |
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programs, including federal and local government funds and private |
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funds; and |
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(4) research and make recommendations regarding the |
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training of external stakeholders, including the expansion of |
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mandated training for medical professionals, child care workers, |
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educators, and higher education professionals with access to |
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minors, to improve the identification, recognition, reporting, and |
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prevention of child abuse and neglect. |
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(k) The board shall collaborate with the department and the |
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Department of State Health Services to develop and maintain a |
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database of the most effective state and national evidence-based or |
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promising practice programs that address child abuse and neglect |
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and the prevention of child abuse and neglect fatalities. The |
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database shall include the cost per family and a cost-benefit |
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analysis for each program. |
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SECTION 23. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |