By:  Talton                                                       H.B. No. 2724



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

Relating to childcare regulation and the making of false and 
anonymous complaints.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 261.107(A) of the Family Code applies to 
the provisions of chapter 42, Human Resources Code.
	(a)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly or 
intentionally makes a report as provided in this chapter that the 
person knows is false or lacks factual foundation.  An offense under 
this section is a Class A misdemeanor unless it is shown on the 
trail of the offense that the person has previously been convicted 
under this section, in which case the offense is a state jail 
felony.
	SECTION 2.  (a)  The department shall adopt rules regarding 
the intake of anonymous complaints under chapter 42 with the goal of 
reducing the number of false and anonymous complaints handled by 
the department.
	(b)  The department shall adopt rules relating to expunging 
the files of providers of services under chapter 42 of unfounded 
complaints.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.