Counties may establish child fatality review teams, and each team must reflect the county’s diversity and choose a presiding officer.
Sec. 264.505. ESTABLISHMENT OF REVIEW TEAM. (a) A multidisciplinary and multiagency child fatality review team may be established for a county to review child deaths in that county. A county may join with an adjacent county or counties to establish a combined review team. (b) Any person who may be a member of a review team under Subsection (c) may initiate the establishment of a review team and call the first organizational meeting of the team. (c) A review team must reflect the diversity of the county's population and may include: (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. (d) Members of a review team may select additional team members according to community resources and needs. (e) A review team shall select a presiding officer from its members. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 255, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 878, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 268 (S.B. 6), Sec. 1.59, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 822 (H.B. 1549), Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2017.