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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain interviews conducted in investigations of child |
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abuse or neglect. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 261.301, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) An interview of the person alleged to have committed |
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child abuse or neglect must be conducted by a law enforcement |
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agency. |
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SECTION 2. Section 261.3011(a), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The department shall, in consultation with the |
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appropriate law enforcement agencies, develop guidelines and |
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protocols for joint investigations by the department and the law |
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enforcement agency under Section 261.301. The guidelines and |
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protocols must: |
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(1) clarify the respective roles of the department and |
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law enforcement agency in conducting the investigation, including |
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the requirement that the law enforcement agency conduct any |
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interview of a person alleged to have committed child abuse or |
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neglect; |
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(2) require that mutual child protective services and |
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law enforcement training and agreements be implemented by both |
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entities to ensure the integrity and best outcomes of joint |
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investigations; and |
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(3) incorporate the use of forensic methods in |
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determining the occurrence of child abuse and neglect. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a report of the abuse or neglect of a child made on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. A report made before the effective date |
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of this Act is governed by the law in effect at the time the report |
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was made, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |