By West                                         H.B. No. 2109

      75R4080 JBN-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to when an affidavit of relinquishment of parental rights

 1-3     may be executed by a parent.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 161.103(a), Family Code, is amended to

 1-6     read as follows:

 1-7           (a)  An affidavit for voluntary relinquishment of parental

 1-8     rights must be:

 1-9                 (1)  signed after the birth of the child, but not

1-10     before 24 [48] hours after the birth of the child, by the parent,

1-11     whether or not a minor, whose parental rights are to be

1-12     relinquished;

1-13                 (2)  witnessed by two credible persons;  and

1-14                 (3)  verified before a person authorized to take oaths.

1-15           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and

1-16     applies only to an affidavit of relinquishment of parental  rights

1-17     executed on or after that date.

1-18           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-19     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-20     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-21     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-22     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.