Texas Health and Safety Code
§ 161.132 — REPORTS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT OR OF ILLEGAL, UNPROFESSIONAL, OR UNETHICAL CONDUCT
HS § 161.132Title 2. HEALTH · Part H. PUBLIC HEALTH PROVISIONS · Ch. 161. PUBLIC HEALTH PROVISIONS · Art. L. ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND UNPROFESSIONAL OR UNETHICAL CONDUCT IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES
Statute text
View on source(a)A person, including an employee, volunteer, or other person associated with an inpatient mental health facility, a treatment facility, or a hospital that provides comprehensive medical rehabilitation services, who reasonably believes or who knows of information that would reasonably cause a person to believe that the physical or mental health or welfare of a patient or client of the facility who is receiving chemical dependency, mental health, or rehabilitation services has been, is, or will be adversely affected by abuse or neglect caused by any person shall as soon as possible report the information supporting the belief to the agency that licenses the facility or to the appropriate state health care regulatory agency.
(b)An employee of or other person associated with an inpatient mental health facility, a treatment facility, or a hospital that provides comprehensive medical rehabilitation services, including a health care professional, who reasonably believes or who knows of information that would reasonably cause a person to believe that the facility or an employee of or health care professional associated with the facility has, is, or will be engaged in conduct that is or might be illegal, unprofessional, or unethical and that relates to the operation of the facility or mental health, chemical dependency, or rehabilitation services provided in the facility shall as soon as possible report the information supporting the belief to the agency that licenses the facility or to the appropriate state health care regulatory agency.
(c)The requirement prescribed by this section is in addition to the requirements provided by Chapter 261, Family Code, and Chapter 48, Human Resources Code.
(d)The executive commissioner by rule for the department and the Department of Aging and Disability Services, and each state health care regulatory agency by rule, shall:
(1)prescribe procedures for the investigation of reports received under Subsection (a) or (b) and for coordination with and referral of reports to law enforcement agencies or other appropriate agencies; and
(2)prescribe follow-up procedures to ensure that a report referred to another agency receives appropriate action.
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Legislative history
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 3.0474, eff. April 2, 2015.