TITLE: Relating to mental health assessments and the provision of mental health services for children in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

SUMMARY: Relating to mental health assessments and the provision of mental health services for children in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to mental health assessments and the provision of mental health services for children in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is amended by adding Section 264.1077 to read as follows: Sec. 264.1077. MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT. (a) Not later than 72 hours after a child enters the conservatorship of the department, the department shall have an appropriate medical or mental health care professional perform a mental health assessment of the child. (b) The department shall ensure that the child receives any necessary treatment as indicated by the child's mental health assessment, as soon as practicable after the assessment under Subsection (a) is complete. SECTION 2. Section 264.1077, Family Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a child who enters the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services on or after the effective date of this Act. A child who enters the conservatorship of the department before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the child entered the conservatorship of the department, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.