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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to investigating an allegation of exploitation involving |
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an elderly person or person with a disability. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 48, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 48.1512 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 48.1512. ACTION ON CERTAIN REPORTS. Notwithstanding |
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any requirement that an act or process must be engaged in by an |
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individual who has an ongoing relationship with the elderly person |
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or person with a disability who is the subject of that act or |
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process in order for the act or process to constitute exploitation, |
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the department or a state agency, including a protective services |
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division of a state agency, that receives a report of an allegation |
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of exploitation involving an individual who does not have an |
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ongoing relationship with the elderly person or person with a |
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disability who is the subject of the report may initiate an |
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investigation in accordance with this subchapter and, if |
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applicable: |
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(1) send a written report of the investigation to the |
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entities described by Section 48.102 in the manner provided by that |
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section; |
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(2) notify the agencies described by Section 48.103 in |
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the manner provided by that section; and |
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(3) notify the appropriate law enforcement agency and |
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the commission's office of inspector general under Section 48.1522. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |