TITLE: Relating to a required court finding of abuse or neglect before an individual's name is added to the central child abuse or neglect registry.

SUMMARY: Relating to a required court finding of abuse or neglect before an individual's name is added to the central child abuse or neglect registry.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to a required court finding of abuse or neglect before an individual's name is added to the central child abuse or neglect registry. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 261.002, Family Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: (a-1) The department may not add to the central registry maintained under this section the name of an individual found by the department to have abused or neglected a child unless a court of competent jurisdiction enters a final order in a civil, criminal, or juvenile proceeding in which the court finds the individual abused or neglected the child. SECTION 2. Section 261.002(a-1), Family Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a finding that an individual abused or neglected a child made by the Department of Family and Protective Services on or after the effective date of this Act. A finding made by the department before that date is governed by the law in effect on the date the finding was made, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.