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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the full investigation of certain reports of child |
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abuse and neglect made to the Department of Family and Protective |
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Services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 261, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 261.3014 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 261.3014. INVESTIGATION OF REPORT REQUIRED. (a) The |
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department shall conduct a full investigation of each report of |
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abuse or neglect made by: |
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(1) a first responder, as defined by Section 421.095, |
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Government Code; |
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(2) an employee of a public or private primary or |
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secondary school, including an open-enrollment charter school; or |
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(3) a physician. |
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(b) The department may not conduct an alternative response |
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under Section 261.3015 to a report of abuse or neglect made to the |
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department by a person listed in Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 2. Section 261.3015(b), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) Except as provided by Section 261.3014 and |
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notwithstanding [Notwithstanding] Section 261.301, the department |
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may, in accordance with this section and department rules, conduct |
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an alternative response to a report of abuse or neglect if the |
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report does not: |
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(1) allege sexual abuse of a child; |
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(2) allege abuse or neglect that caused the death of a |
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child; or |
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(3) indicate a risk of serious physical injury or |
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immediate serious harm to a child. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |