By West H.B. No. 589
76R2304 CMR-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, 1999, and
1-16 applies only to an affidavit of relinquishment of parental rights
1-17 executed on or after that date. An affidavit of relinquishment of
1-18 parental rights executed before the effective date of this Act is
1-19 governed by the law in effect the date the affidavit was executed,
1-20 and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
1-21 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
1-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-24 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-1 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.