Bill Text: TX HB747 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Relating to the duty of certain professionals to report child abuse or neglect.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-04-30 - Referred to Health & Human Services [HB747 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HB747-Engrossed.html

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83R17260 MCK-D
By: Raymond H.B. No. 747

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the duty of certain professionals to report child abuse
or neglect.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 261.101(b), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) If a professional has cause to believe that a child has
been abused or neglected or may be abused or neglected, or that a
child is a victim of an offense under Section 21.11, Penal Code, and
the professional has cause to believe that the child has been abused
as defined by Section 261.001 or 261.401, the professional shall
immediately make a report as provided by this subchapter [not later
than the 48th hour after the hour the professional first suspects
that the child has been or may be abused or neglected or is a victim
of an offense under Section 21.11, Penal Code]. A professional may
not delegate to or rely on another person to make the report. In
this subsection, "professional" means an individual who is licensed
or certified by the state or who is an employee of a facility
licensed, certified, or operated by the state and who, in the normal
course of official duties or duties for which a license or
certification is required, has direct contact with children. The
term includes teachers, nurses, doctors, day-care employees,
employees of a clinic or health care facility that provides
reproductive services, juvenile probation officers, and juvenile
detention or correctional officers.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.