Bill Text: TX HB694 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the response time for investigating a report of abuse or neglect of a child.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-27 - Referred to Human Services [HB694 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB694-Introduced.html

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85R1618 YDB-D
By: Wu H.B. No. 694

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the response time for investigating a report of abuse or
neglect of a child.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 261.301(d), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(d) The executive commissioner shall by rule assign
priorities and prescribe investigative procedures for
investigations based on the severity and immediacy of the alleged
harm to the child. The primary purpose of the investigation shall
be the protection of the child. The rules must require the
department, subject to the availability of funds, to:
(1) immediately respond to a report of abuse or [and]
neglect that involves circumstances in which the death of the child
or substantial bodily harm to the child would result unless the
department immediately intervenes;
(2) respond within 48 [24] hours to a report of abuse
or [and] neglect that is assigned the highest priority, other than a
report described by Subdivision (1); and
(3) respond within five days [72 hours] to a report of
abuse or [and] neglect that is assigned the second highest
priority.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a report of the abuse or neglect of a child made on or after the
effective date of this Act. A report made before the effective date
of this Act is governed by the law in effect at the time the report
was made, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.