| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the provision of child and family services by the |
|
|
Department of Family and Protective Services. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 264, Family Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Sections 264.2042 and 264.2043 to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
Sec. 264.2042. NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING CHILD AND |
|
|
FAMILY SERVICES. The department shall cooperate with nonprofit |
|
|
organizations, including faith-based organizations, in providing |
|
|
to families in crisis: |
|
|
(1) child and family services, including respite care, |
|
|
voluntary guardianship, and other support services; and |
|
|
(2) information on child and family services available |
|
|
in the child's community. |
|
|
Sec. 264.2043. PROHIBITION ON ABUSE OR NEGLECT |
|
|
INVESTIGATION BASED SOLELY ON REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. The |
|
|
department may not initiate an investigation of child abuse or |
|
|
neglect based solely on a request submitted to the department by a |
|
|
child's parent for information relating to child and family |
|
|
services available to families in crisis. |
| |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |