A bill designed to limit false accusations of child abuse is now heading to Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's desk—one of several attempts to reform the state's Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).
The bill was introduced last November by Texas state Rep. Valoree Swanson (R–Spring). The bill—which has largely gained support along partisan lines—will ban anonymous reports to the state's child abuse hotline—instead requiring all callers to provide their name, phone number, and address. The bill also requires reporters of abuse to include "the facts that caused the individual to believe the child has been abused or neglected and the source of the information."
While anonymous reports of abuse and neglect to the state's hotline are prohibited under the legislation, the identity of those reporting abuse will remain confidential, except to DFPS and law enforcement officials. These measures, according to the bill's supporters, are specifically designed to limit false accusations of child abuse.
"As Texans, we need to ensure the safety of our children in any situation. HB 63 will allow for more accountability and protections for those involved in potential CPS and DFPS investigations relating to neglect and abuse," state Rep. Kevin Sparks (R–Midland) told The Texan."Without this necessary reform, both agencies will struggle to verify reports and can complicate the issue with hours of wasted time on false accusations."
Opponents have argued that the bill would...
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