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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the procedures for identifying and notifying relevant |
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federal agencies about certain child abuse and neglect |
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investigations. |
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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 (j) to read as follows: |
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(j) In an investigation of a report of abuse or neglect |
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allegedly committed by a person responsible for a child's care, |
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custody, or welfare, the department as soon as practicable shall |
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make efforts to determine whether the person is a member of the |
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United States armed forces. If the department determines the |
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person is a member of the United States armed forces, the department |
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shall notify the United States Department of Defense family |
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advocacy program of the allegation and investigation. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act to Section |
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261.301, Family Code, apply only to a report of abuse or neglect |
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made on or after the effective date of this Act. A report made |
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before that date is governed by the law in effect on the date the |
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report was made, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |