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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to child protective services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 261.103, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) The department or other entity receiving a report of |
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abuse or neglect shall maintain an audio recording of each report |
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made over the telephone. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The Department of Family and Protective |
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Services shall, in consultation with the Department of Public |
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Safety of the State of Texas, the office of the attorney general, |
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the Health and Human Services Commission, and the office of the |
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governor, study the department's policies and procedures for |
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investigating a report of abuse and neglect of children living in a |
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large group environment. The department shall review: |
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(1) the effect of removing children from the home as |
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opposed to removing the alleged perpetrator; |
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(2) the staffing requirements for removing a large |
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number of children at one time, including the needs for child |
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protective services caseworkers, law enforcement officers, and |
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substitute care providers; and |
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(3) the policies relating to interagency cooperation |
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that apply to investigations of abuse and neglect. |
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(b) The Department of Family and Protective Services shall |
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report the results of the study to the lieutenant governor, the |
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speaker of the house of representatives, and the standing committee |
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of each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over |
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child abuse and neglect issues. The report must include any |
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recommendations for legislation. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |