(a) Records of an alternative response are confidential
case records as provided by the federal Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act and Texas Family Code (TFC) §261.201, and as further
provided in subchapter B, chapter 700, of this title (relating to
Confidentiality and Release of Records).
(b) We will withhold or release confidential alternative
response case records in the same manner as other records that are
gathered or maintained in response to a report of abuse or neglect
of a child, as authorized by state and federal law, and in accordance
with governing rules in subchapter B, chapter 700.
(c) We maintain alternative response case records in
accordance with the Investigations published records retention schedule
on the DFPS website. We may utilize information from an alternative
response if alternative response case records are available and we
receive a subsequent report of abuse or neglect involving a person
who participated in an alternative response case.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter,
we do not release alternative response case records in response to
a request for information received pursuant to TFC §261.308(e).
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