Amend CSHB 1826 by adding the following appropriately
numbered section and renumbering existing sections appropriately:
      SECTION____.(a)Subchapter C, Chapter 42, Human Resources
Code, is amended by adding Section 42.0535 to read as follow:
      Sec.42.0535. REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR VERIFICATION. (a) A
child-placing agency that seeks to verify an agency home or an
agency group home shall request background information about the
agency home or group home from a child-placing agency that has
previously verified that agency home or agency group home.
      (b) Notwithstanding Section 261.201, Family Code, a
child-placing agency that has verified an agency home or an agency
group home is required to release to another child-placing agency
background information requested under Subsection (a).
      (c) A child-placing agency that releases background
information under this section is immune from civil and criminal
liabilty for the release of the information.
      (d) For purposes of this section, background information
means the home study under which the agency home or agency group
home was verified by the previous child placing agency and any
record of non-compliance with state minimum standards received and
the resolution of any such non-compliance by the previous child
placing agency.
      (b) This section takes effect September 1, 1997, and applies
only to the release by a child-placing agency of background
information about an agency home or agency group home on or after
that date. The release of background information before that date
is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the
effective date of this section, and that law is continued in effect
for that purpose.