Sec. 40.061. IMMUNITY. (a) A department employee, a member of a multidisciplinary team established under Section 40.0524, or an authorized department volunteer who performs a departmental duty or responsibility is immune from civil or criminal liability for any act or omission that relates to the duty or responsibility if the person acted in good faith and within the scope of the person's authority.
(b) In this section, "volunteer" means a person who:
(1) renders services for or on behalf of the department under the supervision of a department employee; and
(2) does not receive compensation that exceeds the authorized expenses the person incurs in rendering those services.
(c) This section does not provide immunity to a department employee who, in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship in which child abuse is alleged or that arises out of a child abuse investigation, in a criminal prosecution for an offense in which child abuse is an element, or in the preparation of the suit or prosecution:
(1) commits or attempts to commit perjury;
(2) fabricates or attempts to fabricate evidence;
(3) knowingly conceals or intentionally withholds information that would establish that a person alleged to have committed child abuse did not commit child abuse; or
(4) violates state or federal law in the investigation or prosecution of the suit.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 920, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1022, Sec. 20, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 157, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Structure Texas Statutes
Title 2 - Human Services and Protective Services in General
Subtitle D - Department of Family and Protective Services; Child Welfare and Protective Services
Chapter 40 - Department of Family and Protective Services
Subchapter C. General Functions of Department
Section 40.0505. Divisions of Department
Section 40.051. Strategic Plan for Department
Section 40.0512. Continuity of Services; Information Sharing
Section 40.0515. Quality Assurance Program for Adult Protective Services; Quarterly Reports
Section 40.0516. Collection of Data; Annual Report
Section 40.0521. Rules Regarding Domestic Violence
Section 40.0522. Community Education and Training Relating to Child Abuse or Neglect
Section 40.0524. Multidisciplinary Teams
Section 40.0526. Building Community Partnerships to Support Children and Families
Section 40.0527. Public Awareness
Section 40.05275. Business Plan for Child Protective Services
Section 40.0529. Caseload Management
Section 40.05291. Electronic Case Management System
Section 40.053. Duty to Perform Other Functions
Section 40.054. Access to Criminal History
Section 40.055. Legislative Appropriation Request
Section 40.0564. Department Funds
Section 40.057. Gifts and Grants
Section 40.058. Contracts and Agreements
Section 40.0581. Performance Measures for Certain Service Provider Contracts
Section 40.0582. Quality Contracting Framework
Section 40.0583. State Auditor Review of Contracts
Section 40.060. Indemnification for Legal Expenses
Section 40.062. Exemption From Certain Costs and Fees
Section 40.063. Exceptions From Certain Provisions of Administrative Procedure Act
Section 40.064. Interagency Cooperation and Exchange of Information
Section 40.065. Communications Officer; Plan
Section 40.066. Cooperation With State Office of Administrative Hearings
Section 40.067. Delivery of Services in Areas Bordering United Mexican States
Section 40.068. Local Accounts
Section 40.070. Support Services for Certain Families
Section 40.071. Drug-Endangered Child Initiative
Section 40.072. Duty to Report; Department Records