By: Miles  S.B. No. 1629
         (In the Senate - Filed March 11, 2021; March 24, 2021, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human Services;
  May 3, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 3, 2021, sent
  to printer.)
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1629 By:  Perry
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to failure to report assault, neglect, or omission of care
  in certain group homes; creating a criminal offense.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 38, Penal Code, is amended by adding
  Section 38.172 to read as follows:
         Sec. 38.172.  FAILURE TO REPORT ASSAULT, NEGLECT, OR
  OMISSION OF CARE IN CERTAIN GROUP HOMES. (a) For purposes of this
  section, "group home" means an establishment that provides, in one
  or more buildings, lodging to three or more residents who are
  unrelated by blood or marriage to the owner of the establishment and
  that provides those residents with community meals, light
  housework, meal preparation, transportation, grocery shopping,
  money management, laundry services, or assistance with
  self-administration of medication but does not provide them with
  personal care services as defined by Section 247.002, Health and
  Safety Code.  The term does not include an establishment described
  by Section 260.002, Health and Safety Code.
         (b)  A person commits an offense if the person:
               (1)  has reasonable cause to believe that a resident of
  a group home has suffered bodily injury due to assault, neglect, or
  an omission in care; and
               (2)  fails to report that fact to law enforcement or the
  Department of Family and Protective Services.
         (c)  An offense under this section is a state jail felony.
         (d)  If conduct constituting an offense under this section
  also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor may be
  prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
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