{"data":{"id":"us-tx/tex.-human-resources-code-45.005","jurisdiction":"us-tx","citation":"Tex. Human Resources Code § 45.005","heading":"SECONDARY SERVICES PROVIDERS AND REFERRALS.","body":"(a) A child welfare services provider may not be required to provide any service that conflicts with the provider's sincerely held religious beliefs.\n(b) A governmental entity or any person that operates under governmental authority to refer or place children for child welfare services shall:\n(1) ensure that a secondary child welfare services provider is available in that catchment area to provide a service described by Subsection (a) to a child; or\n(2) if there is an insufficient number of secondary services providers willing or available in that catchment area to provide that service, provide for one or more secondary services providers in a nearby catchment area.\n(c) A child welfare services provider who declines to provide a child welfare service as authorized by this section shall:\n(1) provide to the person seeking the service written information directing the person to:\n(A) the web page on the department's Internet website that includes a list of other licensed child welfare services providers; or\n(B) other information sources that identify other licensed child welfare services providers who provide the service being denied;\n(2) refer the applicant to another licensed child welfare services provider who provides the service being denied; or\n(3) refer the applicant to the department or to a single source continuum contractor to identify and locate a licensed child welfare services provider who provides the service being denied.\nAdded by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1152 (H.B. 3859), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.","path":["HUMAN RESOURCES CODE","TITLE 2. HUMAN SERVICES AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES IN GENERAL","SUBTITLE D. DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES; CHILD WELFARE AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES","CHAPTER 45. PROTECTION OF RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE FOR CHILD WELFARE SERVICES PROVIDERS"],"source_url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HR/htm/HR.45.htm#45.005","current_through":"89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T01:47:18Z","sha256":"32addb51bd936d0f8ecbf79d0f10af022a0c64c07dbd08b7f26cfea1a1f10729","source_id":"us-tx","stale":false,"prev":"us-tx/tex.-human-resources-code-45.004","next":"us-tx/tex.-human-resources-code-45.006"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}