When confronted with a potential case of child abuse or neglect, a judge who wishes to contact the department shall first use the child abuse hotline to report the suspected child abuse or neglect to the department. If the:

1. (1) judge does not obtain a response from the child abuse hotline; or

2. (2) response the judge obtains from the hotline will not, in the opinion of the judge, serve the best interests of the child;

   the judge may contact a local office of the department directly to report the suspected child abuse or neglect.

As added by P.L.158-2013, SEC.317.