(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.

Terms Used In Texas Human Resources Code 42.063

  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Rule: includes regulation. See Texas Government Code 311.005

(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.

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