Bill Text: TX SB2009 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to access to certain information in the adoption process.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-05-15 - Referred to Human Services [SB2009 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SB2009-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Relating to access to certain information in the adoption process.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-05-15 - Referred to Human Services [SB2009 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SB2009-Introduced.html
88R7017 MLH-F | ||
By: Sparks | S.B. No. 2009 |
|
||
|
||
relating to access to certain information in the adoption process | ||
and information in certain investigations conducted by the | ||
Department of Family and Protective Services. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Sections 162.005(b) and (c), Family Code, are | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(b) Before placing a child for adoption, the Department of | ||
Family and Protective Services, a licensed child-placing agency, or | ||
the child's parent or guardian shall compile a report on the | ||
available health, social, educational, and genetic history of the | ||
child to be adopted and distribute the report as required by this | ||
chapter. | ||
(c) The department shall ensure that each licensed | ||
child-placing agency, single source continuum contractor, or other | ||
person placing a child for adoption receives a copy of any portion | ||
of the report prepared by the department not later than the 30th day | ||
after the date the child's permanency plan is changed to include | ||
adoption. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 162.0062, Family Code, is amended by | ||
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-2) and (a-3) to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the prospective | ||
adoptive parents of a child are entitled to examine the records and | ||
other information relating to the history of the child including | ||
confidential information other than the identity of the biological | ||
parents and any other person whose identity is confidential. The | ||
Department of Family and Protective Services, licensed | ||
child-placing agency, or other person placing a child for adoption | ||
shall inform the prospective adoptive parents of their right to | ||
examine the records and other information relating to the history | ||
of the child. The department, licensed child-placing agency, or | ||
other person placing the child for adoption shall edit the records | ||
and information to protect the identity of the biological parents | ||
and any other person whose identity is confidential. | ||
(a-2) The department, licensed child-placing agency, or | ||
other person placing the child for adoption may require a | ||
prospective adoptive parent to sign a confidentiality agreement | ||
before releasing confidential information under this section. | ||
(a-3) The department, licensed child-placing agency, or | ||
other person placing the child for adoption shall provide the | ||
information under this section not later than the 90th day after the | ||
date the information is requested. | ||
SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, | ||
is amended by adding Section 40.0051 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 40.0051. CONFIDENTIAL INVESTIGATION INFORMATION. The | ||
department shall, not later than the 90th day after a request is | ||
made for information, produce all requested information related to | ||
any investigation conducted by the department. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |