Relating to the establishment of an education-based program to prevent medical child abuse through standardized training for medical students, healthcare professionals, and child protective services caseworkers.

89(R) SB 2826 - Introduced version - Bill Text

By: Parker

S.B. No. 2826

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of an education-based program to

prevent medical child abuse through standardized training for

medical students, healthcare professionals, and child protective

services caseworkers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding

Subchapter X to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER X. MEDICAL CHILD ABUSE EDUCATION PROGRAM

Sec.

531.981.

SHORT TITLE. This subchapter may be cited as

"Alyssa's Law."

Sec. 531.982. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1)

"Medical child abuse" means the intentional

misrepresentation, fabrication, exaggeration, or induction of

illness or medical symptoms in a child by a parent or caregiver,

leading to unnecessary medical treatment, interventions, or harm.

(2)

"Medical child abuse prevention training" means

standardized education designed to help medical professionals and

child protective services workers identify, report, and prevent

medical child abuse while ensuring due process in investigations.

Sec.

531.983.

ESTABLISHMENT OF MEDICAL CHILD ABUSE

EDUCATION PROGRAM.

(a)

Not later than September 1, 2027, the commission, in

collaboration with the Texas Medical Board, the Department of

Family and Protective Services, and accredited healthcare

institutions, using existing resources, grants, and programs to the

extent possible, shall establish and administer a program to:

(1)

define and identify medical child abuse based on

clinical, behavioral, and legal standards;

(2)

train medical students, licensed healthcare

professionals, and child protective services (CPS) caseworkers to

recognize and respond to medical child abuse cases;

(3)

implement standardized training protocols for medical

schools, hospitals, and social services agencies;

(4)

develop continuing education modules for medical

professionals and child welfare personnel;

(5)

ensure that training programs incorporate best

practices for thorough case evaluation before CPS intervention; and

(6)

promote collaboration between CPS caseworkers and

medical professionals to improve accuracy in identifying medical

child abuse.

(b)

The program must ensure that all training modules

reflect:

(1) the clinical indicators of medical child abuse;

(2)

the distinction between legitimate medical conditions

and fabricated illness claims;

(3)

the ethical and legal considerations in child abuse

reporting;

(4)

best practices for peer review and medical consultation

before CPS intervention; and

(5)

procedures for multidisciplinary case review to ensure

investigative accuracy.

Sec.

531.984.

INTEGRATION INTO MEDICAL AND PROFESSIONAL

TRAINING.

(a)

Texas medical schools shall integrate medical child

abuse education into their curricula as part of students'

professional training.

(b)

The Texas Medical Board, in consultation with the

commission and the Department of Family and Protective Services,

shall require continuing medical education requirements that

include:

(1) identifying and preventing medical child abuse;

(2)

recognizing patterns of falsified symptoms and

unnecessary medical procedures;

(3)

distinguishing true medical concerns from fabricated

abuse allegations; and

(4) legal responsibilities for reporting suspected cases.

(c)

The Department of Family and Protective Services shall

ensure that CPS investigators and caseworkers receive annual

training on:

(1)

investigative protocols for suspected medical child

abuse;

(2)

how to collaborate with medical professionals before

taking legal action; and

(3)

the role of peer-reviewed medical assessments in

child abuse cases.

Sec. 531.985. IMPLEMENTATION AND OVERSIGHT.

(a)

The commission, in collaboration with the Texas Medical

Board and the Department of Family and Protective Services, shall

oversee the development and implementation of the medical child

abuse education program under this subchapter.

(b)

The program must be made accessible to all medical

students, healthcare professionals, and child protective services

caseworkers as part of their required training and continuing

education.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.