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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to access to information regarding reports of child abuse |
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or neglect. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 261.201, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (k) and (l) to read as follows: |
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(k) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), an investigating |
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agency, other than the department or the Texas Youth Commission, on |
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request, shall provide to the parent, managing conservator, or |
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other legal representative of a child who is the subject of reported |
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abuse or neglect, or to the child if the child is at least 18 years |
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of age, information concerning the reported abuse or neglect that |
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would otherwise be confidential under this section. The |
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investigating agency shall withhold information under this |
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subsection if the parent, managing conservator, or other legal |
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representative of the child requesting the information is alleged |
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to have committed the abuse or neglect. |
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(l) Before a child or a parent, managing conservator, or |
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other legal representative of a child may inspect or copy a record |
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or file concerning the child under Subsection (k), the custodian of |
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the record or file must redact: |
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(1) any personally identifiable information about a |
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victim or witness under 18 years of age unless that victim or |
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witness is: |
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(A) the child who is the subject of the report; or |
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(B) another child of the parent, managing |
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conservator, or other legal representative requesting the |
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information; |
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(2) any information that is excepted from required |
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disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code, or other law; and |
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(3) the identity of the person who made the report. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |