1. (a) The adult protective services division of the department shall maintain an investigation unit to investigate allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elderly persons and persons with disabilities reported to the division.

2. (b) An investigator in the unit shall determine whether an elderly person or person with a disability who is the subject of a report made under Section 48.051(a) may have suffered from abuse, neglect, or exploitation as a result of the criminal conduct of another person. If the investigator determines that criminal conduct may have occurred, the investigator shall immediately notify:

   1. (1) the commission's office of inspector general if the person with a disability who is the subject of the report resides in a state supported living center or the ICF-IID component of the Rio Grande State Center; and
   2. (2) the appropriate law enforcement agency, unless the law enforcement agency reported the alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation to the department.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 268 (S.B. 6), Sec. 2.01, eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 284 (S.B. 643), Sec. 24, eff. June 11, 2009.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1056 (S.B. 221), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 4.189, eff. April 2, 2015.