SB2826 - 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.

      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.