Bill Text: TX HB1781 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to access by a sibling of a child separated from the sibling due to an action by the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)
Status: (Passed) 2015-06-17 - Effective on 9/1/15 [HB1781 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB1781-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Relating to access by a sibling of a child separated from the sibling due to an action by the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)
Status: (Passed) 2015-06-17 - Effective on 9/1/15 [HB1781 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB1781-Introduced.html
84R7413 KKA-D | ||
By: Bonnen of Galveston | H.B. No. 1781 |
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relating to access of an adopted child to the adopted child's | ||
biological siblings in certain circumstances. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 102, Family Code, is amended by adding | ||
Section 102.0046 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 102.0046. STANDING FOR ADOPTIVE PARENT. The parent of | ||
an adopted child may file an original suit requesting access to a | ||
biological sibling of the child as provided by Section 162.024. | ||
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 162, Family Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 162.024 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 162.024. ACCESS TO SIBLINGS. (a) In this section: | ||
(1) "Biological sibling" means a person with whom a | ||
child shares a common birth parent. | ||
(2) "Birth parent" has the meaning assigned by Section | ||
162.402. | ||
(b) The parent of an adopted child may file an original suit | ||
to request access on behalf of the child to a biological sibling of | ||
the child adopted by another person. | ||
(c) Subsection (b) applies only to the extent that a parent | ||
of an adopted child is aware of the existence of a biological | ||
sibling adopted by another person and the identity of that person, | ||
and does not entitle the parent to confidential information | ||
regarding a biological sibling or adoptive parent. | ||
(d) The court shall order reasonable access to the | ||
biological sibling if the court finds that access is in the best | ||
interest of both children. | ||
SECTION 3. Section 162.018, Family Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: | ||
(c-1) The department, a licensed child-placing agency, or | ||
another entity or person placing a child for adoption shall provide | ||
the child's adoptive parent with any information known to the | ||
department, agency, entity, or person that is not confidential | ||
regarding the adoption of a biological sibling, as defined by | ||
Section 162.024, of the child by another person. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |