By Wise                                         H.B. No. 1993

      75R6891 MCK-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to reporting child abuse.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 261.103, Family Code, is amended to read

 1-5     as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 261.103.  REPORT MADE TO APPROPRIATE AGENCY.  (a)  If

 1-7     the alleged or suspected abuse of a child involves a person

 1-8     responsible for the care, custody, or welfare of the child, a [A]

 1-9     report shall be made to:

1-10                 (1)  any local or state law enforcement agency; and

1-11                 (2)  the department.

1-12           (b)  If [if] the alleged or suspected abuse of a child does

1-13     not involve [involves] a person responsible for the care, custody,

1-14     or welfare of the child, a report shall be made to any local or

1-15     state law enforcement agency.[;]

1-16           (c)  In addition to the requirements of Subsections (a) and

1-17     (b), a report may be made to:

1-18                 (1) [(3)]  the state agency that operates, licenses,

1-19     certifies, or registers the facility in which the alleged abuse or

1-20     neglect occurred;  or

1-21                 (2) [(4)]  the agency designated by the court to be

1-22     responsible for the protection of children.

1-23           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-24     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-1     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-2     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-3     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

 2-4     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

 2-5     passage, and it is so enacted.