By: Minjarez, Miller, Blanco H.B. No. 2124
(Senate Sponsor - Kolkhorst)
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 18, 2017;
April 24, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on Health &
Human Services; May 16, 2017, reported favorably by the following
vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 16, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the procedures for identifying and notifying relevant
federal agencies about certain child abuse and neglect
investigations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 261.301, Family Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (j) to read as follows:
(j) In an investigation of a report of abuse or neglect
allegedly committed by a person responsible for a child's care,
custody, or welfare, the department shall determine whether the
person is an active duty member of the United States armed forces or
the spouse of a member on active duty. If the department determines
the person is an active duty member of the United States armed
forces or the spouse of a member on active duty, the department
shall notify the United States Department of Defense Family
Advocacy Program at the closest active duty military installation
of the investigation.
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act to Section
261.301, Family Code, apply only to a report of abuse or neglect
made on or after the effective date of this Act. A report made
before that date is governed by the law in effect on the date the
report was made, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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