AG Asked if ISD Police Can Investigate Child Abuse/Neglect

Image: seal, Texas Attorney General — Source: Texas Attorney General

Requested Opinion: RQ-0614-KP

This request for an attorney general’s opinion — asked by Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare — wants to know if a new law has stripped school district police departments from being able to investigate school related child abuse and neglect allegations.

Teare cited a lack of clarity surrounding SB571/regular session that removed school district police from one of the listed “law enforcement” entities for which school employees must make a required reporting of suspected child abuse/neglect.

Teare asked if this change in law also means that school police officers can no longer investigate suspected child abuse/neglect within their school district jurisdictions.

The AG typically has up to six months to issue an opinion.