Sec. 672.002. ESTABLISHMENT OF REVIEW TEAM

(a) A multidisciplinary and multiagency unexpected fatality review team may be established for a county to conduct reviews of unexpected deaths that occur within the county. A review team for a county with a population of less than 50,000 may join with an adjacent county or counties to establish a combined review team.

(b) The commissioners court of a county may oversee the activities of the review team or may designate a county department to oversee those activities. The commissioners court may designate a nonprofit agency or a political subdivision of the state involved in the support or treatment of victims of family violence, abuse, or suicide to oversee the activities of the review team if the governing body of the nonprofit agency or political subdivision concurs.

(c) Any person who may be a member of a review team under Subsection (d) may initiate the establishment of a review team and call the first organizational meeting of the team.

(d) A review team may include:

(1) a criminal prosecutor involved in prosecuting crimes involving family violence;

(2) a peace officer;

(3) a justice of the peace or medical examiner;

(4) a public health professional;

(5) a representative of the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services engaged in providing adult protective services;

(6) a mental health services provider;

(7) a representative of the family violence shelter center providing services to the county;

(8) the victim witness advocate in the county prosecutor's office;

(9) a representative from the battering intervention and prevention program for the county; and

(10) a community supervision and corrections department officer.

(e) Members of a review team may select additional team members according to community resources and needs.

(f) A review team shall select a presiding officer from its members.

(g) Members selected under Subsection (e) must reflect the geographical, cultural, racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of the county or counties represented.

(h) Members selected under this section should have experience in abuse, neglect, suicide, family violence, or elder abuse.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1486, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.