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How to Report

Texas (TX)

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Who is required to report?

Citation: Fam. Code § 261.101

For purposes of the reporting laws, persons required to report include professionals who are licensed or certified by the State or who are employees of facilities licensed, certified, or operated by the State and who, in the normal course of official duties or duties for which licensure or certification is required, have direct contact with children. The term 'professionals' include the following:

  • Teachers or daycare employees
  • Nurses, doctors, or employees of a clinic or health-care facility that provides reproductive services
  • Juvenile probation officers or juvenile detention or correctional officers

When is a report required?

Citation: Fam. Code § 261.101

Any person who has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been adversely affected by abuse or neglect shall immediately make a report.

A professional who has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused or neglected or may be abused or neglected shall make a report no later than 48 hours after the professional first has reasonable cause to believe that the child has been or may be abused or neglected.

A person or professional shall make a report if the person or professional has reasonable cause to believe that an adult was a victim of abuse or neglect as a child and the person or professional determines in good faith that disclosure of the information is necessary to protect the health and safety of another child, an elderly person, or a person with a disability.

What information should the report include?

Citation: Fam. Code § 261.104

The report should reflect the reporter’s belief that a child has been or may be abused or neglected, or has died of abuse or neglect.

To the extent known, it should also include:

  • The name and address of the child
  • The name and address of the person responsible for the care, custody, or welfare of the child
  • The facts that caused the individual to believe the child has been abused or neglected and the source of the information
  • The individual’s name and telephone number
  • The individual’s home address or (for “professionals” as defined above) business address and profession
  • Any other pertinent information concerning the alleged or suspected abuse or neglect

Failure to report

Citation: Fam. Code § 261.109

A person commits an offense if the person is required to make a report under § 261.101 and knowingly fails to make a report as required.

A person who is a professional as defined by § 261.101 commits an offense if the person is required to make a report and knowingly fails to make a report as provided in this chapter.

An offense by a person is a class A misdemeanor, except that the offense is a State jail felony if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the child was a person with an intellectual disability who resided in a State-supported living center, the medical assistance program for persons with intellectual disabilities component of the Rio Grande State Center, or a facility licensed under chapter 252, Health and Safety Code, and the actor knew that the child had suffered serious bodily injury as a result of the abuse or neglect.

An offense by a professional is a class A misdemeanor, except that the offense is a State jail felony if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the actor intended to conceal the abuse or neglect.