By Conley H.B. No. 196 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to prohibiting the consideration of race in adoptions and 1-3 foster care. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 16, Family Code, is amended 1-6 by adding Section 16.081 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 16.081. RACE OR ETHNICITY. In determining the best 1-8 interest of the child under Section 16.08 of this code, the court 1-9 may not deny the adoption solely on the basis of race or ethnicity 1-10 of the child or the prospective adoptive parents. 1-11 SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 41, Human Resources Code, 1-12 is amended by adding Section 41.028 to read as follows: 1-13 Sec. 41.028. RACE OR ETHNICITY. The department may not 1-14 prohibit the placement of a child in foster care or remove a child 1-15 from foster care solely on the basis of race or ethnicity of the 1-16 child or the foster family. 1-17 SECTION 3. Chapter 47, Human Resources Code, is amended by 1-18 adding Subchapter C to read as follows: 1-19 SUBCHAPTER C. PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN 1-20 Sec. 47.041. RACE OR ETHNICITY. The department, a county 1-21 child-care or welfare unit, or a licensed adoption agency may not 1-22 deny placement of a child for adoption solely on the basis of the 1-23 race or ethnicity of the child or prospective adoptive parents. 1-24 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1993, and 2-1 applies to an adoption or placement of a child that is: 2-2 (1) commenced on or after that date; or 2-3 (2) commenced before that date but is pending or 2-4 becomes final on or after that date. 2-5 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the 2-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.