(a) We assign priorities for reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation based on the assessment of the immediacy of the risk and the severity of the possible harm to the child. Prior to initiating an investigation, we will review the intake report to determine if the initial priority and action recommended is appropriate or must be updated.
  (1) Priority I reports concern:
    (A) death or immediate risk of death; serious injury; or life-threatening abuse, neglect, or exploitation; or
    (B) imminent risk of death, serious injury, or life-threatening abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
  (2) Priority II reports are all other reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation that are not assigned a Priority I.
(b) Subject to the availability of funds, we must:
  (1) Immediately respond to a report of abuse, neglect, or exploitation that is assigned a Priority I and involves:
    (A) the death of a child; or
    (B) circumstances in which serious physical or emotional harm or death of a child will result unless we immediately intervene.
  (2) Respond within 24 hours to a report of abuse, neglect, or exploitation that is assigned a Priority I and involves circumstances in which the threat of serious physical or emotional harm or death of a child is not immediate but may occur in the very near future unless we intervene.
  (3) Respond within 72 hours to a report of abuse, neglect, or exploitation that is assigned a Priority II.

Source Note: The provisions of this §707.715 adopted to be effective July 15, 2020, 45 TexReg 4780