Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
By Naishtat H.B. No. 3200
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the Adoptive Parent Registry.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
1-5 amended to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 264.109. Adoptive Parent Registry. (a) The department
1-7 shall establish a registry of persons who are willing to accept
1-8 foster care placement of a child in the care of the department.
1-9 The child may be placed temporarily with a person registered under
1-10 this section pending termination of the parent-child relationship.
1-11 (b) A person registered under this section must satisfy
1-12 requirements adopted by rule by the department.
1-13 (c) The department shall maintain a list of persons
1-14 registered under this section and shall make a reasonable effort to
1-15 place a child with the first available qualified person on the list
1-16 if a qualified extended family member is not available for the
1-17 child.
1-18 (d) Before a child may be placed with a person under this
1-19 section, the person must sign a written statement in which the
1-20 person agrees to the immediate removal of the child by the
1-21 department under circumstances determined by the department.
1-22 (e) [A person registered under this section is not entitled
1-23 to compensation during the time the child is placed in the person's
1-24 home but may receive support services provided for the child by the
2-1 department.]
2-2 [(f)] A person registered under this section has the right
2-3 to be considered first for the adoption of a child placed in the
2-4 person's home if the parent-child relationship is terminated with
2-5 regard to the child and if no qualified relative with whom the
2-6 child has an established relationship is available for the child.
2-7 (f) [(g)] The department may refuse to place a child with a
2-8 person registered under this section only for a reason permitted
2-9 under criteria adopted by department rule.
2-10 (g) [(h)] The department shall make the public aware of the
2-11 existence and benefits of the adoptive parent registry through
2-12 appropriate existing department communication methods.
2-13 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
2-14 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.