BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 1109
                                         By: Greenberg (Moncrief)
                                        Health and Human Services
                                                         05-22-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

Current law does not require a social study to be performed prior
to certain adoptions in this state.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1109 requires that a social study be performed
prior to all adoptions.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 162.003, Family Code, as added by H.B.
655, Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, as
follows:

     (a) Requires a court, in a suit for adoption, including a suit
     in which a private agency or individual is responsible for
     placing the child for adoption, to order a social study as
     provided in Chapter 107.
     
     (b) Requires the social study required by this section to
     include a complete investigation of the circumstances and
     condition of the home of a person petitioning for the adoption
     of a child under this chapter.
     
     (c) Requires the court to order that the cost of the social
     study be paid by the person seeking to adopt the child who is
     the subject of the social study.
     
     SECTION 2.     Effective date: September 1, 1995.
           Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.