By Goodman H.B. No. 3270
76R7416 MCK-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the involvement of the Department of Protective and
1-3 Regulatory Services in the adoption of certain children.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 162.018, Family Code, is amended by
1-6 amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
1-7 follows:
1-8 (b) Except as provided by Subsection (e), the [The] adoptive
1-9 parents and the adopted child, after the child is an adult, are
1-10 entitled to receive copies of the records that have been edited to
1-11 protect the identity of the biological parents and any other person
1-12 whose identity is confidential and other information relating to
1-13 the history of the child maintained by the department, licensed
1-14 child-placing agency, person, or entity placing the child for
1-15 adoption.
1-16 (e) The adoptive parents of a child who is at least seven
1-17 years of age at the time of the adoption are entitled to receive
1-18 unedited copies of the records and other information relating to
1-19 the history of the child maintained by the department, licensed
1-20 child-placing agency, person, or entity placing the child for
1-21 adoption.
1-22 SECTION 2. Section 162.305, Family Code, is amended to read
1-23 as follows:
1-24 Sec. 162.305. FUNDS. (a) The department and other state
2-1 agencies shall actively seek and use federal funds available for
2-2 the purposes of this subchapter.
2-3 (b) The department shall centralize funding to pay licensed
2-4 child-placing agencies.
2-5 SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 162, Family Code, is
2-6 amended by adding Section 162.310 to read as follows:
2-7 Sec. 162.310. COOPERATION WITH LICENSED CHILD-PLACING
2-8 AGENCIES. (a) The department shall use licensed child-placing
2-9 agencies to assist the department in placing children. A licensed
2-10 child-placing agency may perform an adoptive home screening, social
2-11 study, or health, social, educational, and genetic history or any
2-12 other function to assist the department in expediting the adoption
2-13 process.
2-14 (b) The department shall cooperate with licensed
2-15 child-placing agencies through forming advisory groups, creating a
2-16 formal communication and complaint system, sharing information, and
2-17 taking other necessary actions.
2-18 SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
2-19 amended by adding Section 264.113 to read as follows:
2-20 Sec. 264.113. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES. (a) The department
2-21 shall provide educational services for a child in substitute care.
2-22 If the child qualifies for federal funding, the department shall
2-23 provide educational and other services to the child until the child
2-24 reaches 21 years of age.
2-25 (b) The department shall establish work groups with school
2-26 districts and other entities to develop an educational plan for a
2-27 child in the department's care. The goal of the educational plan
3-1 is to ensure the child graduates from high school and is prepared
3-2 to meet adult responsibilities.
3-3 (c) The court may assign a court-appointed volunteer
3-4 advocate to represent the interest of the child in an educational
3-5 planning meeting.
3-6 SECTION 5. Section 264.201, Family Code, is amended by
3-7 adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
3-8 (e) The department shall provide services to a
3-9 difficult-to-place child and the child's adoptive family after
3-10 adoption to ensure a successful adoption as required by Section
3-11 162.306.
3-12 SECTION 6. Subchapter C, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
3-13 amended by adding Section 264.2065 to read as follows:
3-14 Sec. 264.2065. RECRUITING ADOPTIVE FAMILIES. The department
3-15 shall attempt to increase the number of potential adoptive
3-16 families. The department may advertise for adoptive parents,
3-17 conduct seminars and conferences, and promote partnerships with
3-18 churches and civic organizations to recruit adoptive parents. The
3-19 department shall provide licensed child-placing agencies with the
3-20 names of potential adoptive parents and adoptable children.
3-21 SECTION 7. (a) The Department of Protective and Regulatory
3-22 Services shall expand the department's permanency achieved through
3-23 a coordinated efforts program to two metropolitan areas of the
3-24 state.
3-25 (b) The Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
3-26 shall expand its policies designed to promote the adoption of more
3-27 difficult-to-place children throughout the state.
4-1 (c) The Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
4-2 shall expand the department's policy under which an adoptive parent
4-3 may voluntarily relinquish to the department a child having special
4-4 needs for which the adoptive parent is unable to provide adequate
4-5 care.
4-6 SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
4-7 SECTION 9. The importance of this legislation and the
4-8 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-9 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-10 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-11 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.