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