88R2932 AMF-D

By: Swanson H.B. No. 63

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to reports of child abuse or neglect and certain preliminary investigations of those reports.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 261.104, Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 261.104. CONTENTS OF REPORT; NOTICE. (a) The individual [person] making a report shall identify, if known:

(1) the name and address of the child;

(2) the name and address of the person responsible for the care, custody, or welfare of the child; [and]

(3) the facts that caused the individual to believe the child has been abused or neglected and the source of the information;

(4) the individual's name and telephone number;

(5) the individual's:

(A) home address; or

(B) if the individual is a professional as defined by Section 261.101(b), the individual's business address and profession; and

(6) any other pertinent information concerning the alleged or suspected abuse or neglect.

(b) If the individual making a report of child abuse or neglect uses the toll-free telephone number the department operates for reporting child abuse or neglect and the individual is unwilling to provide the information described by Subsection (a)(4), the department representative receiving the report shall notify the individual that:

(1) the department is not authorized to accept an anonymous report of abuse or neglect;

(2) the individual may report the abuse or neglect by calling 9-1-1 or making a report to any local or state law enforcement agency; and

(3) the identity of an individual making a report under this subchapter is confidential and may be disclosed only:

(A) as provided by Section 261.201; or

(B) to a law enforcement officer for the purposes of conducting a criminal investigation of the report.

(c) The department representative or other person receiving a report of child abuse or neglect shall use the person's best efforts to obtain the information described by Subsection (a).

(d) If a report of abuse or neglect is made orally, the department representative or other person receiving the report shall:

(1) notify the individual making the report that:

(A) the report is being recorded; and

(B) making a false report is a criminal offense under Section 261.107 punishable as a state jail felony or a third degree felony; and

(2) make an audio recording of the report.

SECTION 2. Section 261.304, Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 261.304. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF ANONYMOUS REPORT. (a) If an individual makes [the department receives] an anonymous report of child abuse or neglect by a person responsible for a child's care, custody, or welfare to a 9-1-1 service or a local or state law enforcement agency and the service or agency refers the report to the department, the department shall conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether there is any evidence to corroborate the report. A law enforcement officer may not accompany the department representative on a visit to the child's home during any preliminary investigation conducted under this section.

(b) A preliminary [An] investigation conducted under this section may include:

(1) a visit to the child's home, unless the alleged abuse or neglect is [can be] confirmed or clearly ruled out without a home visit;

(2) [,] an interview with and examination of the child;

(3) [, and] an interview with the child's parents; and

(4) an [. In addition, the department may] interview with any other person the department believes may have relevant information, if the person voluntarily consents to the interview without any coercion or undue influence.

(b-1) When conducting a preliminary investigation under this section, the department representative may not:

(1) enter the child's home without the homeowner's consent;

(2) interview the child or the child's parents or examine the child unless the representative obtains written consent for the interview or examination from the child's parents; or

(3) threaten or coerce a parent to consent to an interview or examination under this section, including by notifying the parents that law enforcement will be called if the parents fail to cooperate with the investigation.

(b-2) When interviewing or examining a child under this section, the department representative may not separate the child from the child's parents. An examination of a child under this section may only be visual. The representative may not touch or disrobe the child when conducting the examination.

(c) Unless the department determines that there is sufficient [some] evidence to corroborate the report of abuse, the department may not conduct the thorough investigation required by this chapter or take any action against the person accused of abuse.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.