BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 121 By: Harris (Talton) 04-24-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND A biological father is often not identified in birth or other hospital records. Early identification of a biological father often makes it easier to establish child support orders. PURPOSE As proposed, SB 121 establishes a program to increase voluntary paternity acknowledgement at a hospital birth. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 192.003, Health and Safety Code, by amending Subsections (d)-(f) as follows: (e) Requires a person listed by Subsection (a) or (b) who is responsible for filing the birth certificate, if the child's parents are not married, to provide an opportunity for the child's mother and biological father to sign the birth certificate or a form in which the biological father consents to be named as the child's father on the birth certificate, and to provide information about establishing paternity to the child's mother and the father, if present. Deletes existing Subsection (d), setting forth specific individuals responsible for providing the opportunity to establish paternity or to provide information about establishing paternity. (f)-(g) Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1995. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION S.B. 121 was considered in a formal meeting on 11 April 1995. (A similar bill, H.B. 910, was considered on 29 March 1995.) S.B. 121 was reported favorably without amendment with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed by a record vote of 8 ayes, 1 nay, 0 pnv, 0 absent.