REPORTING OF INCIDENTS AND VIOLATIONS.

(a) In this section, "serious incident" means a suspected or actual incident that threatens or impairs the basic health, safety, or well-being of a child. The term includes:

(1) the arrest, abuse, neglect, exploitation, running away, attempted suicide, or death of a child;

(2) a critical injury of a child; and

(3) an illness of a child that requires hospitalization.

(b) A person licensed under this chapter shall report to the commission each serious incident involving a child who receives services from the person, regardless of whether the department is the managing conservator of the child.

(b-1) A person licensed or registered under this chapter shall notify in accordance with commission rule a parent or guardian of a child in the care of the person of an incident of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the child, injury of the child that requires treatment by a medical professional or hospitalization, or illness of the child that requires hospitalization.

(b-2) A person licensed or registered under this chapter shall notify in accordance with commission rule a parent or guardian of each child in the care of the person of a violation that constitutes abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a child.

(c) An employee of a person described by Subsection (b) shall report suspected abuse or neglect directly to the statewide intake system.

(d) An employee or volunteer of a general residential operation, child-placing agency, continuum-of-care residential operation, cottage home operation, or specialized child-care home shall report any serious incident directly to the commission if the incident involves a child under the care of the operation, agency, or home.

(e) A foster parent shall report any serious incident directly to the department if the incident involves a child under the care of the parent.

(f) The executive commissioner by rule shall prescribe:

(1) procedures governing reporting required under this section; and

(2) the manner in which a report under this section must be provided.

(g) The commission shall implement this section using existing appropriations.