REPORTING AND INVESTIGATION OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, OR EXPLOITATION.

(a) A person, including an owner, operator, or employee of a boarding home facility that holds a permit issued by a county or municipality, who has cause to believe that a resident who is an elderly person or a person with a disability is being or has been abused, neglected, or exploited shall report the abuse, neglect, or exploitation to the Department of Family and Protective Services for investigation by that agency. The Department of Family and Protective Services shall investigate the allegation of abuse, neglect, or exploitation as authorized and in the manner provided by Chapter 48, Human Resources Code.

(b) Each boarding home facility that holds a permit issued by a county or municipality shall require each employee of the boarding home facility, as a condition of employment with the boarding home facility, to sign a statement that the employee acknowledges that the employee may be criminally liable under Section 48.052, Human Resources Code, for failure to report abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

(c) An owner, operator, or employee of a boarding home facility that holds a permit issued by a county or municipality may not retaliate against an employee of the facility who in good faith makes a complaint to the office of the inspector general of the Health and Human Services Commission, cooperates with the office of the inspector general in an investigation, or reports abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a resident to the Department of Family and Protective Services.