Family Code · §261.103

Where Child Abuse Reports Are Made

Where Child Abuse Reports Are Made (§261.103): key points and worked practice questions for Texas peace officer exam preparation.

Key points

  • DFPS (Texas Abuse Hotline)
  • Law enforcement
  • State agency licensing the facility
  • Caregiver suspected: report must go to DFPS (§261.103(c))

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Worked examples

Worked example 1

Reports of suspected child abuse / neglect must be made to:

  1. Anyone
  2. Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), OR a law enforcement agency, OR a state agency that operates / licenses / certifies / registers the facility where the abuse / neglect is alleged Correct
  3. Only DFPS
  4. Only the family attorney
Why: Reports may be made to DFPS (Texas Abuse Hotline 1-800-252-5400 / online), to law enforcement, or to the state agency that operates or licenses the facility where the alleged abuse or neglect occurred (§261.103(a)). But if the alleged abuse or neglect involves a person responsible for the child's care, custody, or welfare, the report must be made to DFPS (§261.103(c)).
Statute: Tex. Fam. Code §261.103

Statutory definitions for this topic

Texas Abuse Hotline Tex. Fam. Code §261.103
DFPS reporting hotline: 1-800-252-5400, available 24/7. Online reporting also available at TxAbuseHotline.org. Reports may also be made to law enforcement or to a state agency that licenses the facility where the abuse/neglect occurred — but if a person responsible for the child's care is suspected, the report must go to DFPS (§261.103(c)).