84R8420 YDB-F
 
  By: Huffman, Bettencourt S.B. No. 1943
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the duty to report child abuse or neglect.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 261.101(a), (b), and (b-1), Family
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A person who receives any information [having cause to
  believe] that a child's physical or mental health or welfare has
  been adversely affected by abuse or neglect by any person shall
  immediately make a report as provided by this subchapter.
         (b)  If a professional receives any information [has cause to
  believe] that a child has been abused or neglected or may be abused
  or neglected, or that a child is a victim of an offense under
  Section 21.11, Penal Code, and the professional receives any
  information [has cause to believe] that the child has been abused as
  defined by Section 261.001 or 261.401, the professional shall make
  a report not later than the 48th hour after the hour the
  professional first receives the information [suspects] that the
  child has been or may be abused or neglected or is a victim of an
  offense under Section 21.11, Penal Code.  A professional may not
  delegate to or rely on another person to make the report.  In this
  subsection, "professional" means an individual who is licensed or
  certified by the state or who is an employee of a facility licensed,
  certified, or operated by the state and who, in the normal course of
  official duties or duties for which a license or certification is
  required, has direct contact with children.  The term includes
  teachers, nurses, doctors, day-care employees, employees of a
  clinic or health care facility that provides reproductive services,
  juvenile probation officers, and juvenile detention or
  correctional officers.
         (b-1)  In addition to the duty to make a report under
  Subsection (a) or (b), a person or professional shall make a report
  in the manner required by Subsection (a) or (b), as applicable, if
  the person or professional receives any information [has cause to
  believe] that an adult was a victim of abuse or neglect as a child
  and the person or professional determines in good faith that
  disclosure of the information is necessary to protect the health
  and safety of:
               (1)  another child; or
               (2)  an elderly or disabled person as defined by
  Section 48.002, Human Resources Code.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.