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.