Petition Description: We call on the Texas Legislature to enact the Texas Child Abuse Reporting Reform Act (Mariah Amendment) — a vital legal reform to protect vulnerable children by closing dangerous reporting loopholes in our state’s child protection system.

Under current practice, some Texas law enforcement agencies refuse to accept or document child abuse reports when the alleged abuse occurred outside their jurisdiction. This is a misapplication of the law that contradicts both the Texas Family Code § 261.103 and the duties of peace officers as mandatory reporters under § 261.101.

Nowhere in Texas statute does it authorize a police agency to decline a child abuse report based on jurisdictional boundaries. However, this failure to take reports creates a legal and procedural dead zone — delaying or denying timely intervention and allowing abuse to continue unchecked.

The Mariah Amendment proposes statutory changes that will:

Mandate that all Texas law enforcement agencies accept and document reports of suspected child abuse or neglect, regardless of jurisdiction;
Require immediate routing of out-of-jurisdiction reports to the appropriate investigative agency (CPS or local law enforcement);
Establish oversight and accountability measures, including:

Periodic audits;
Penalties for noncompliance;
Required training for officers on reporting obligations;

Clarify in statute that jurisdiction is not a valid basis to refuse intake of a child abuse report.

This amendment strengthens existing law and ensures agencies fulfill their duties under the Texas Family Code, protecting both children and the integrity of the reporting system.

This petition is named in honor of Mariah Nicole, whose report was wrongfully rejected — a failure no family should endure again.

We urge lawmakers, law enforcement leaders, and Texas citizens to stand behind this reform.

🖊️ Sign this petition to demand Texas closes the jurisdictional gap in child abuse reporting. Protect the vulnerable. Enforce the law. Pass the Mariah Amendment.