SB2785 - Relating to notification and disclosure of records and information concerning an investigation of a report of child abuse or neglect to county or district attorneys.

      By: Birdwell S.B. No. 2785     (VanDeaver)           A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to notification and disclosure of records and information   concerning an investigation of a report of child abuse or neglect to   county or district attorneys.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 261.1055, Family Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 261.1055.  NOTIFICATION AND RELEASE OF CERTAIN   INFORMATION TO COUNTY OR DISTRICT ATTORNEYS. (a) A county or   district attorney may inform the department that the county or   district attorney wishes to receive notification of some or all   reports of suspected abuse or neglect of children who were in the   county at the time the report was made or who were in the county at   the time of the alleged abuse or neglect.          (b)  If the county or district attorney makes the   notification under Subsection (a) [ this section ], the department   shall, on receipt of a report of suspected abuse or neglect,   immediately notify the county or district attorney as requested and   the department shall forward a copy of the reports to the county or   district attorney on request.           (c)     If the conduct that is the subject of an investigation   of abuse or neglect constitutes an offense against a child under one   of the following provisions of the Penal Code, on the arrest of a   person for the offense a county or district attorney may request a   copy of the report of the abuse or neglect investigation prepared by   the department under Section 261.308 and all available information   concerning the investigation:                 (1)  Section 19.02 (murder);                 (2)  Section 19.03 (capital murder);                 (3)  Section 19.04 (manslaughter);                 (4)     Section 20A.02(a)(7) or (8) (trafficking of   persons);                 (5)     Section 21.02 (continuous sexual abuse of young   child or disabled individual);                 (6)  Section 21.11 (indecency with a child);                 (7)  Section 22.011 (sexual assault);                 (8)  Section 22.02 (aggravated assault);                 (9)  Section 22.021 (aggravated sexual assault);                 (10)     Section 22.04 (injury to a child, elderly   individual, or disabled individual);                 (11)     Section 22.041 (abandoning or endangering a   child, elderly individual, or disabled individual);                 (12)  Section 25.02 (prohibited sexual conduct);                 (13)  Section 43.05(a)(2) (compelling prostitution);                 (14)  Section 43.25 (sexual performance by a child); or                 (15)     Section 43.26 (possession or promotion of child   pornography).           (d)     If a county or district attorney makes a request under   Subsection (c), the department shall forward a copy of the   investigation report and any available information requested,   including information that is confidential under Section 261.201,   not later than the 30th day after the date of the request.           (e)     The investigation report and information released by   the department to a county or district attorney under Subsection   (d) is not subject to public release by the county or district   attorney under Chapter 552, Government Code, and may only be   disclosed for purposes consistent with Articles 39.14, 39.15, and   39.151, Code of Criminal Procedure.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.