Texas Family Code

§ 261.001 — DEFINITIONS

FA § 261.001Title 5. THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AND THE SUIT AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP · Part E. PROTECTION OF THE CHILD · Ch. 261. INVESTIGATION OF REPORT OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT · Art. A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

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In this chapter:

(1)"Abuse" includes the following acts or omissions by a person:

(A)mental or emotional injury to a child that results in an observable and material impairment in the child's growth, development, or psychological functioning;

(B)causing or permitting the child to be in a situation in which the child sustains a mental or emotional injury that results in an observable and material impairment in the child's growth, development, or psychological functioning;

(C)physical injury that results in substantial harm to the child, or the genuine threat of substantial harm from physical injury to the child, including an injury that is at variance with the history or explanation given 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;

(D)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;

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Legislative history

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 268 (S.B. 6), Sec. 1.11, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 593 (H.B. 8), Sec. 3.32, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 24), Sec. 4.03, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1142 (S.B. 44), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.120, eff. April 2, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.203(4), eff. April 2, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 432 (S.B. 1889), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1273 (S.B. 825), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 316 (H.B. 5), Sec. 36(1), eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 319 (S.B. 11), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1136 (H.B. 249), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 8 (H.B. 567), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 29 (H.B. 2536), Sec. 2, eff. May 15, 2021. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 221 (H.B. 375), Sec. 2.18, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 807 (H.B. 1540), Sec. 39, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 768 (H.B. 4595), Sec. 8.003, eff. September 1, 2023. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 215 (H.B. 1151), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2025. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 555 (H.B. 1106), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1138 (S.B. 571), Sec. 1.29, eff. June 20, 2025.