87R12169 JSC-D
By: Miles S.B. No. 1629
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to failure to report assault, neglect, or omission of care
in certain group homes; creating a criminal offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 38, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Section 38.172 to read as follows:
Sec. 38.172. FAILURE TO REPORT ASSAULT, NEGLECT, OR
OMISSION OF CARE IN CERTAIN GROUP HOMES. (a) For purposes of this
section, "group home" means an establishment that:
(1) provides, in one or more buildings, lodging to
three or more residents who are unrelated by blood or marriage to
the owner of the establishment; and
(2) provides those residents with community meals,
light housework, meal preparation, transportation, grocery
shopping, money management, laundry services, or assistance with
self-administration of medication but does not provide them with
personal care services as defined by Section 247.002, Health and
Safety Code.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person:
(1) has reasonable cause to believe that a resident of
a group home has suffered bodily injury due to assault, neglect, or
an omission in care; and
(2) fails to report that fact to law enforcement or the
Department of Family and Protective Services.
(c) An offense under this section is a state jail felony.
(d) If conduct constituting an offense under this section
also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor may be
prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.