AUSTIN -- Today, the Texas Senate unanimously approved SB 802 by Sen. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) to help the state better understand and prevent child fatalities. SB 802 adds a member from the Texas Department of Transportation and a member from the Department of Public Safety to the State Child Fatality Review Team Committee.

"Traffic accidents are the number one killer of children ages 3-14 so it is critical to have representatives from transportation and safety agencies on the child fatality review committee," said Nichols. "This bill is a common sense way to help the review board more effectively review and prevent child fatalities."

The Child Fatality Review Team was established in 1995 to:

• develop an understanding of the causes and incidences of child deaths in Texas;
• identify procedures within the agencies represented to reduce preventable child deaths;
• promote public awareness; and
• make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature for changes in law, policy and practice to prevent child deaths.

"Every child fatality is a tragedy," said Nichols. "The review board does important work to prevent such tragedies, and its membership should come from all major fields related to child protection."

A companion bill, HB 2001, was filed in the House by Rep. Creighton (R-Conroe). SB 208 is the first bill passed by Nichols who is a freshman senator.

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