By Wise                                                H.B. No. 159
         76R264 KLA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the reporting of child abuse.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 261.101, Family Code, is amended by
 1-5     amending Subsection (a)  and adding Subsection (e) to read as
 1-6     follows:
 1-7           (a)  Any adult who has [A person having] cause to believe
 1-8     that a child's physical or mental health or welfare has been
 1-9     adversely affected by abuse or neglect by any person shall
1-10     immediately make a report as provided by this subchapter.  In this
1-11     subsection, the term "adult" means an individual who is at least 18
1-12     years of age.  The term is not limited to a teacher, nurse, medical
1-13     practitioner, day-care employee, juvenile probation officer,
1-14     juvenile detention or correctional officer, member of the clergy,
1-15     mental health professional, attorney, or social worker.
1-16           (e)  The department shall develop and implement an
1-17     advertising campaign to increase public awareness of the reporting
1-18     requirement provided by this  subchapter.
1-19           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-20           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-21     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-22     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-23     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-24     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.