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(a) In this section, "serious incident" means a suspected or actual incident that threatens or impairs the basic health, safety, or well-being of a child. The term includes:
(1) the arrest, abuse, neglect, exploitation, running away, attempted suicide, or death of a child;
(2) a critical injury of a child; and
(3) an illness of a child that requires hospitalization.
(b) A person licensed under this chapter shall report to the commission each serious incident involving a child who receives services from the person, regardless of whether the department is the managing conservator of the child.
(b-1) A person licensed or registered under this chapter shall notify in accordance with commission rule a parent or guardian of a child in the care of the person of an incident of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the child, injury of the child that requires treatment by a medical professional or hospitalization, or illness of the child that requires hospitalization.
(b-2) A person licensed or registered under this chapter shall notify in accordance with commission rule a parent or guardian of each child in the care of the person of a violation that constitutes abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a child.
(c) An employee of a person described by Subsection (b) shall report suspected abuse or neglect directly to the statewide intake system.
(d) An employee or volunteer of a general residential operation, child-placing agency, continuum-of-care residential operation, cottage home operation, or specialized child-care home shall report any serious incident directly to the commission if the incident involves a child under the care of the operation, agency, or home.
(e) A foster parent shall report any serious incident directly to the department if the incident involves a child under the care of the parent.
(f) The executive commissioner by rule shall prescribe:
(1) procedures governing reporting required under this section; and
(2) the manner in which a report under this section must be provided.
(g) The commission shall implement this section using existing appropriations. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 268 (S.B. 6 ), Sec. 1.106, eff. September 1, 2005. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 720 (S.B. 68 ), Sec. 12, eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 317 (H.B. 7 ), Sec. 66, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 588 (S.B. 568 ), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2019.