Texas Administrative Code
Title 40 - SOCIAL SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE
Part 19 - DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES
Chapter 707 - CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS
Subchapter A - INVESTIGATIONS
Division 1 - INTAKE, INVESTIGATION AND ASSESSMENT
Section 707.485 - What are the timeframes within which we must respond to a report of child abuse or neglect assigned for investigation?
Universal Citation: 40 TX Admin Code ยง 707.485
Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a) The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services assigns priorities for reports of abuse and neglect based on the assessment of the immediacy of the risk and the severity of the possible harm to the child. Prior to initiating an investigation, we will review the intake report to determine if the initial priority and action recommended is appropriate or must be updated.
(1) Priority
I reports concern children who appear to face an immediate risk of abuse or
neglect that could result in death or serious harm.
(2) Priority II reports are all other reports
of abuse or neglect that are not assigned a Priority I.
(b) Subject to the availability of funds, we must:
(1) Immediately respond to a report of
abuse or neglect that is assigned a Priority I and involves circumstances in
which the death of the child or substantial bodily harm to the child will
imminently result unless we immediately intervene;
(2) Within 24 hours respond to a report of
abuse or neglect that is assigned a Priority I, other than a report described
in paragraph (1) of this subsection, by initiating an investigation;
and
(3) Within 72 hours respond to
a report of abuse or neglect that is assigned a Priority II by initiating an
investigation or, pursuant to Texas Family Code §
261.3015, by forwarding
the report to specialized screening staff.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Texas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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