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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to individuals whose name may be added to the central child |
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abuse or neglect registry. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 261.002, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) The department may not add to the central registry |
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maintained under this section the name of an individual found by the |
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department to have abused or neglected a child unless: |
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(1) a court of competent jurisdiction enters a final |
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order in a civil, criminal, or juvenile proceeding in which the |
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court finds the individual abused or neglected the child; or |
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(2) the individual: |
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(A) is found to have abused or neglected a child |
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in a child-care facility or family home, as defined by Section |
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42.002, Human Resources Code; |
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(B) is found to have abused or neglected a child |
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in a public or private school; |
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(C) is found to have engaged in reportable |
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conduct that requires the individual's inclusion in the interagency |
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reportable conduct search engine results under Chapter 810, Health |
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and Safety Code; or |
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(D) is found to have abused or neglected a child |
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while the child is in the conservatorship of the department. |
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SECTION 2. Section 261.002(a-1), Family Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies only to a finding that an individual abused or |
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neglected a child made by the Department of Family and Protective |
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Services on or after the effective date of this Act. A finding made |
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by the department before that date is governed by the law in effect |
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on the date the finding was made, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |