Texas · Through 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025

Tex. Family Code § 261.304: INVESTIGATION OF ANONYMOUS REPORT.

(a) If an individual makes an anonymous report of child abuse or neglect by a person responsible for a child's care, custody, or welfare to a law enforcement agency and the agency refers the report to the department, the department shall conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether there is any evidence to corroborate the report.
(b) An investigation under this section may include a visit to the child's home, unless the alleged abuse or neglect can be confirmed or clearly ruled out without a home visit, an interview with and examination of the child, and an interview with the child's parents. In addition, the department may interview any other person the department believes may have relevant information.
(c) Unless the department determines that there is some evidence to corroborate the report of abuse, the department may not conduct the thorough investigation required by this chapter or take any action against the person accused of abuse.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995.
Amended by:
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 416 (S.B. 1063), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 381 (H.B. 63), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2023.
Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1138 (S.B. 571), Sec. 1.35, eff. June 20, 2025.

Where this section sits in the code

FAMILY CODE
TITLE 5. THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AND THE SUIT AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP
SUBTITLE E. PROTECTION OF THE CHILD
CHAPTER 261. INVESTIGATION OF REPORT OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT
SUBCHAPTER D. INVESTIGATIONS

(b) An investigation under this section may include a visit to the child's home, unless the alleged abuse or neglect can be confirmed or clearly ruled out without a home visit, an interview with and examination of the child, and an interview with the child's parents. In addition, the department may interview any other person the department believes may have relevant information.

(c) Unless the department determines that there is some evidence to corroborate the report of abuse, the department may not conduct the thorough investigation required by this chapter or take any action against the person accused of abuse.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995.

Amended by:

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 416 (S.B. 1063), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 381 (H.B. 63), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2023.

Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1138 (S.B. 571), Sec. 1.35, eff. June 20, 2025.

Collected 2026-08-27T01:47:10Z. Source file · JSON

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