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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to creating the criminal offense of failing to report |
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abuse, neglect, or exploitation in boarding home facilities in |
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certain counties and municipalities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 260, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 260.0091 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 260.0091. REPORTING OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, OR EXPLOITATION |
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IN CERTAIN COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES; CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) |
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This section applies only to a county or municipality that does not |
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require a person to obtain a permit from the county or municipality |
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to operate a boarding home facility, as authorized by Section |
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260.004. |
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(b) A person commits an offense if the person: |
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(1) leases to another a building owned by the person |
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that is being operated as a boarding home facility in a county or |
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municipality to which this section applies; |
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(2) has actual knowledge that a resident of the |
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boarding home facility is being or has been abused, neglected, or |
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exploited; and |
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(3) fails to report the abuse, neglect, or |
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exploitation to the Department of Family and Protective Services |
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for investigation by that agency. |
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(c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |