| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to peace officer reporting of suspected abuse, neglect, or |
|
|
exploitation of an elderly person or a person with a disability to |
|
|
the adult protective services division of the Department of Family |
|
|
and Protective Services. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 2, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
|
amended by adding Article 2.274 to read as follows: |
|
|
Art. 2.274. PEACE OFFICER REPORTING OF SUSPECTED ABUSE, |
|
|
NEGLECT, OR EXPLOITATION OF AN ELDERLY PERSON OR A PERSON WITH A |
|
|
DISABILITY. (a) In this article, "abuse," "elderly person," |
|
|
"exploitation," "neglect," and "person with a disability" have the |
|
|
meanings assigned by Section 48.002, Human Resources Code. |
|
|
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (d), on receipt of |
|
|
information indicating that an elderly person or a person with a |
|
|
disability has been the victim of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, |
|
|
a peace officer shall immediately report the suspected abuse, |
|
|
neglect, or exploitation to the adult protective services division |
|
|
of the Department of Family and Protective Services. |
|
|
(c) A report made under Subsection (b) shall include, if |
|
|
known by the peace officer, information required under Section |
|
|
48.051(d), Human Resources Code. |
|
|
(d) A peace officer is not required to report under |
|
|
Subsection (b) if the information indicating the abuse, neglect, or |
|
|
exploitation was provided to the peace officer by an employee of the |
|
|
adult protective services division of the Department of Family and |
|
|
Protective Services. |
|
|
(e) A report made under this article satisfies the |
|
|
requirement imposed under Section 48.051, Human Resources Code, |
|
|
that a person report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of |
|
|
certain individuals to the Department of Family and Protective |
|
|
Services. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |