Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 1598	Senate Author:  Watson
Effective:  6-19-09	House Sponsor:  Herrero

            Senate Bill 1598 amends the Family Code to permit a parent or both parents of a child to enter into an agreement with the child's grandparent, adult sibling, or adult aunt or uncle to authorize the relative to make certain decisions regarding the child relating to medical treatment, health and automobile insurance coverage, day-care or preschool enrollment, participation in extracurricular, civic, social, or recreational activities, obtaining a learner's permit, driver's license, or state-issued identification card, employment, and public benefits. The bill specifies elements required to be contained in such an agreement, establishes procedures for the execution and termination of an agreement, and sets out the duties of the parties to an agreement and the conditions under which an authorization is void or voidable.

            Senate Bill 1598 makes it a Class B misdemeanor offense for a person to knowingly present a document that is not a valid authorization agreement as a valid authorization agreement, make a false statement on an authorization agreement, or obtain an authorization agreement by fraud, duress, or misrepresentation.

            Senate Bill 1598 requires the Department of Family and Protective Services to prescribe forms for a disclosure statement and authorization agreement not later than January 1, 2010, and requires the department and the Texas Education Agency to make the forms available online or provide paper copies to the public on request without charge.