reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
TX Fam Code § 261.312 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle E - Protection of the Child|Chapter 261 - Investigation of Report of Child Abuse or Neglect|Subchapter D. Investigations|Section 261.312. Review Teams; Offense

Sec. 261.312.  REVIEW TEAMS;  OFFENSE.  (a)  The department shall establish review teams to evaluate department casework and decision-making related to investigations by the department of child abuse or neglect.  The department may create one or more review teams for each region of the department for child protective services.  A review team is a citizen review panel or a similar entity for the purposes of federal law relating to a state's child protection standards.(b)  A review team consists of at least five members who serve staggered two-year terms.  Review team members are appointed by the commissioner of the department and consist of volunteers who live in and are broadly representative of the region in which the review team is established and have expertise in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect.  At least two members of a review team must be parents who have not been convicted of or indicted for an offense involving child abuse or neglect, have not been determined by the department to have engaged in child abuse or neglect, and are not under investigation by the department for child abuse or neglect.  A member of a review team is a department volunteer for the purposes of Section 411.114, Government Code.(c)  A review team conducting a review of an investigation may conduct the review by examining the facts of the case as outlined by the department caseworker and law enforcement personnel.  A review team member acting in the member's official capacity may receive information made confidential under Section 40.005, Human Resources Code, or Section 261.201. (d)  A review team shall report to the department the results of the team's review of an investigation.  The review team's report may not include confidential information.  The findings contained in a review team's report are subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.  This section does not require a law enforcement agency to divulge information to a review team that the agency believes would compromise an ongoing criminal case, investigation, or proceeding.(e)  A member of a review team commits an offense if the member discloses confidential information.  An offense under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor.|Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 943, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.  Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 575, Sec. 16, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1372 (S.B. 939), Sec. 3, eff. June 19, 2009.Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.141, eff. April 2, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 261.3125 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle E - Protection of the Child|Chapter 261 - Investigation of Report of Child Abuse or Neglect|Subchapter D. Investigations|Section 261.3125. Child Safety Specialists

Sec. 261.3125.  CHILD SAFETY SPECIALISTS.  (a)  The department shall employ in each of the department's administrative regions at least one child safety specialist.  The job responsibilities of the child safety specialist must focus on child abuse and neglect investigation issues, including reports of child abuse required by Section 261.101, to achieve a greater compliance with that section, and on assessing and improving the effectiveness of the department in providing for the protection of children in the region.(b)  The duties of a child safety specialist must include the duty to:(1)  conduct staff reviews and evaluations of cases determined to involve a high risk to the health or safety of a child, including cases of abuse reported under Section 261.101, to ensure that risk assessment tools are fully and correctly used;(2)  review and evaluate cases in which there have been multiple referrals to the department of child abuse or neglect involving the same family, child, or person alleged to have committed the abuse or neglect; and(3)  approve decisions and assessments related to investigations of cases of child abuse or neglect that involve a high risk to the health or safety of a child.|Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1490, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 268 (S.B. 6), Sec. 1.29, eff. September 1, 2005.|
TX Fam Code § 261.3126 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle E - Protection of the Child|Chapter 261 - Investigation of Report of Child Abuse or Neglect|Subchapter D. Investigations|Section 261.3126. Colocation of Investigators

Sec. 261.3126.  COLOCATION OF INVESTIGATORS.  (a)  In each county, to the extent possible, the department and the local law enforcement agencies that investigate child abuse in the county shall colocate in the same offices investigators from the department and the law enforcement agencies to improve the efficiency of child abuse investigations.  With approval of the local children's advocacy center and its partner agencies, in each county in which a children's advocacy center established under Section 264.402 is located, the department shall attempt to locate investigators from the department and county and municipal law enforcement agencies at the center.(b)  A law enforcement agency is not required to comply with the colocation requirements of this section if the law enforcement agency does not have a full-time peace officer solely assigned to investigate reports of child abuse and neglect.(c)  If a county does not have a children's advocacy center, the department shall work with the local community to encourage one as provided by Section 264.402.|Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 268 (S.B. 6), Sec. 1.30, eff. September 1, 2005.|
TX Fam Code § 261.314 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle E - Protection of the Child|Chapter 261 - Investigation of Report of Child Abuse or Neglect|Subchapter D. Investigations|Section 261.314. Testing

Sec. 261.314.  TESTING.  (a)  The department shall provide testing as necessary for the welfare of a child who the department believes, after an investigation under this chapter, has been sexually abused, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing of a child who was abused in a manner by which HIV may be transmitted.(b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), the results of a test under this section are confidential.(c)  If requested, the department shall report the results of a test under this section to:(1)  a court having jurisdiction of a proceeding involving the child or a proceeding involving a person suspected of abusing the child;(2)  a person responsible for the care and custody of the child as a foster parent;  and(3)  a person seeking to adopt the child.|Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 943, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.|
TX Fam Code § 261.315 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle E - Protection of the Child|Chapter 261 - Investigation of Report of Child Abuse or Neglect|Subchapter D. Investigations|Section 261.315. Removal of Certain Investigation Information From Records

Sec. 261.315.  REMOVAL OF CERTAIN INVESTIGATION INFORMATION FROM RECORDS.  (a)  At the conclusion of an investigation in which the department determines that the person alleged to have abused or neglected a child did not commit abuse or neglect, the department shall notify the person of the person's right to request the department to remove information about the person's alleged role in the abuse or neglect report from the department's records.(b)  On request under Subsection (a) by a person whom the department has determined did not commit abuse or neglect, the department shall remove information from the department's records concerning the person's alleged role in the abuse or neglect report.(c)  The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to administer this section.|Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1022, Sec. 75, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.142, eff. April 2, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 261.316 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle E - Protection of the Child|Chapter 261 - Investigation of Report of Child Abuse or Neglect|Subchapter D. Investigations|Section 261.316. Exemption From Fees for Medical Records

Sec. 261.316.  EXEMPTION FROM FEES FOR MEDICAL RECORDS.  The department is exempt from the payment of a fee otherwise required or authorized by law to obtain a medical record from a hospital or health care provider if the request for a record is made in the course of an investigation by the department.|Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 575, Sec. 17, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.  Renumbered from Sec. 261.315 by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 19.01(27), eff. Sept. 1, 1999.|
TX Fam Code § 261.401 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle E - Protection of the Child|Chapter 261 - Investigation of Report of Child Abuse or Neglect|Subchapter E. Investigations of Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation in Certain Facilities|Section 261.401. Agency Investigation

Sec. 261.401.  AGENCY INVESTIGATION.(a)  Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1136 (H.B. 249), Sec. 14, and Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 319 (S.B. 11), Sec. 32, eff. September 1, 2017.(b)  Except as provided by Section 261.404 of this code and Section 531.02013(1)(D), Government Code, a state agency that operates, licenses, certifies, registers, or lists a facility in which children are located or provides oversight of a program that serves children shall make a prompt, thorough investigation of a report that a child has been or may be abused, neglected, or exploited in the facility or program.  The primary purpose of the investigation shall be the protection of the child.(c)  A state agency shall adopt rules relating to the investigation and resolution of reports received as provided by this subchapter.  The executive commissioner shall review and approve the rules of agencies other than the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to ensure that those agencies implement appropriate standards for the conduct of investigations and that uniformity exists among agencies in the investigation and resolution of reports.(d)  The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Texas School for the Deaf shall adopt policies relating to the investigation and resolution of reports received as provided by this subchapter.  The executive commissioner shall review and approve the policies to ensure that the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Texas School for the Deaf adopt those policies in a manner consistent with the minimum standards adopted by the executive commissioner under Section 261.407.|Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995.  Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 751, Sec. 98, eff. Sept. 1, 1995;  Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 355, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 908 (H.B. 2884), Sec. 29, eff. September 1, 2007.Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 284 (S.B. 643), Sec. 6, eff. June 11, 2009.Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 720 (S.B. 68), Sec. 18, eff. September 1, 2009.Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.143, eff. April 2, 2015.Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 319 (S.B. 11), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2017.Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 319 (S.B. 11), Sec. 32, eff. September 1, 2017.Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1136 (H.B. 249), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2017.Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1136 (H.B. 249), Sec. 14, eff. September 1, 2017.|
TX Fam Code § 261.402 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle E - Protection of the Child|Chapter 261 - Investigation of Report of Child Abuse or Neglect|Subchapter E. Investigations of Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation in Certain Facilities|Section 261.402. Investigative Reports

Sec. 261.402.  INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS.  (a)  A state agency shall prepare and keep on file a complete written report of each investigation conducted by the agency under this subchapter.(b)  A state agency shall immediately notify the appropriate state or local law enforcement agency of any report the agency receives, other than a report from a law enforcement agency, that concerns the suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a child or the death of a child from abuse or neglect.  If the state agency finds evidence indicating that a child may have been abused, neglected, or exploited, the agency shall report the evidence to the appropriate law enforcement agency.(c)  A state agency that licenses, certifies, or registers a facility in which children are located shall compile, maintain, and make available statistics on the incidence in the facility of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation that is investigated by the agency.(d)  A state agency shall compile, maintain, and make available statistics on the incidence of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation in a facility operated by the state agency.|Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995.  Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 751, Sec. 99, eff. Sept. 1, 1995;  Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 355, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.144, eff. April 2, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 261.403 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle E - Protection of the Child|Chapter 261 - Investigation of Report of Child Abuse or Neglect|Subchapter E. Investigations of Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation in Certain Facilities|Section 261.403. Complaints

Sec. 261.403.  COMPLAINTS.  (a)  If a state agency receives a complaint relating to an investigation conducted by the agency concerning a facility operated by that agency in which children are located, the agency shall refer the complaint to the agency's governing body.(b)  The governing body of a state agency that operates a facility in which children are located shall ensure that the procedure for investigating abuse, neglect, and exploitation allegations and inquiries in the agency's facility is periodically reviewed under the agency's internal audit program required by Chapter 2102, Government Code.|Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995.  Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 355, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.145, eff. April 2, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 261.406 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle E - Protection of the Child|Chapter 261 - Investigation of Report of Child Abuse or Neglect|Subchapter E. Investigations of Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation in Certain Facilities|Section 261.406. Investigations in Schools

Sec. 261.406.  INVESTIGATIONS IN SCHOOLS.  (a)  On receipt of a report of alleged or suspected abuse or neglect of a child in a public or private school, the department shall perform an investigation as provided by this chapter.(b)  The department shall send a copy of the completed report of the department's investigation to the Texas Education Agency or, in the case of a private school, the school's chief executive officer.  On request, the department shall provide a copy of the completed report of the department's investigation to the State Board for Educator Certification, the local school board or the school's governing body, the superintendent of the school district, the public school principal or director, or the chief executive officer of the private school, unless the principal, director, or chief executive officer is alleged to have committed the abuse or neglect, for appropriate action.  On request, the department shall provide a copy of the report of investigation to the parent, managing conservator, or legal guardian of a child who is the subject of the investigation and to the person alleged to have committed the abuse or neglect.  The report of investigation shall be edited to protect the identity of the persons who made the report of abuse or neglect.  Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, Section 261.201(b) applies to the release of the report relating to the investigation of abuse or neglect under this section and to the identity of the person who made the report of abuse or neglect.(c)  Nothing in this section may prevent a law enforcement agency from conducting an investigation of a report made under this section.(d)  The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section.|Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 751, Sec. 100, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.  Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 575, Sec. 18, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;  Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1150, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1999;  Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1390, Sec. 27, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 213 (H.B. 1970), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2005.Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1372 (S.B. 9), Sec. 14, eff. June 15, 2007.Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.148, eff. April 2, 2015.Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 206), Sec. 22, eff. September 1, 2015.Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 987 (S.B. 1231), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2019.|
TX Fam Code § 261.407 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle E - Protection of the Child|Chapter 261 - Investigation of Report of Child Abuse or Neglect|Subchapter E. Investigations of Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation in Certain Facilities|Section 261.407. Minimum Standards

Sec. 261.407.  MINIMUM STANDARDS.  (a)  The executive commissioner by rule shall adopt minimum standards for the investigation under Section 261.401 of suspected child abuse, neglect, or exploitation in a facility.(b)  A rule or policy adopted by a state agency or institution under Section 261.401 must be consistent with the minimum standards adopted by the executive commissioner.(c)  This section does not apply to a facility under the jurisdiction of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.|Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 355, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.149, eff. April 2, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 261.408 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle E - Protection of the Child|Chapter 261 - Investigation of Report of Child Abuse or Neglect|Subchapter E. Investigations of Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation in Certain Facilities|Section 261.408. Information Collection

Sec. 261.408.  INFORMATION COLLECTION.  (a)  The executive commissioner by rule shall adopt uniform procedures for collecting information under Section 261.401, including procedures for collecting information on deaths that occur in facilities.(b)  The department shall receive and compile information on investigations in facilities.  An agency submitting information to the department is responsible for ensuring the timeliness, accuracy, completeness, and retention of the agency's reports.(c)  This section does not apply to a facility under the jurisdiction of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.|Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 355, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.150, eff. April 2, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 261.409 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle E - Protection of the Child|Chapter 261 - Investigation of Report of Child Abuse or Neglect|Subchapter E. Investigations of Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation in Certain Facilities|Section 261.409. Investigations in Facilities Under Texas Juvenile Justice Department Jurisdiction

Sec. 261.409.  INVESTIGATIONS IN FACILITIES UNDER TEXAS JUVENILE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT JURISDICTION.  The board of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department by rule shall adopt standards for:(1)  the investigation under Section 261.401 of suspected child abuse, neglect, or exploitation in a facility under the jurisdiction of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department; and(2)  compiling information on those investigations.|Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 355, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 734 (H.B. 1549), Sec. 84, eff. September 1, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 261.410 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle E - Protection of the Child|Chapter 261 - Investigation of Report of Child Abuse or Neglect|Subchapter E. Investigations of Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation in Certain Facilities|Section 261.410. Report of Abuse by Other Children

Sec. 261.410.  REPORT OF ABUSE BY OTHER CHILDREN.  (a)  In this section:(1)  "Physical abuse" means:(A)  physical injury that results in substantial harm to the child requiring emergency medical treatment and excluding an accident or reasonable discipline by a parent, guardian, or managing or possessory conservator that does not expose the child to a substantial risk of harm; or(B)  failure to make a reasonable effort to prevent an action by another person that results in physical injury that results in substantial harm to the child.(2)  "Sexual abuse" means:(A)  sexual conduct harmful to a child's mental, emotional, or physical welfare; or(B)  failure to make a reasonable effort to prevent sexual conduct harmful to a child.(b)  An agency that operates, licenses, certifies, or registers a facility shall require a residential child-care facility to report each incident of physical or sexual abuse committed by a child against another child.(c)  Using information received under Subsection (b), the agency that operates, licenses, certifies, or registers a facility shall, subject to the availability of funds, compile a report that includes information:(1)  regarding the number of cases of physical and sexual abuse committed by a child against another child;(2)  identifying the residential child-care facility;(3)  regarding the date each allegation of abuse was made;(4)  regarding the date each investigation was started and concluded;(5)  regarding the findings and results of each investigation; and(6)  regarding the number of children involved in each incident investigated.|Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 268 (S.B. 6), Sec. 1.31, eff. September 1, 2005.|