HBA-KDB S.B. 1000 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1000
By: Jackson
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
4/16/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, there are no provisions regarding the adoption of a
child  from a foreign country by a citizen of the United States.
Therefore, the procedure for such an adoption is determined by each
individual county.  There is concern that there may be conflicting
procedures among counties.  Senate Bill 1000 provides unified procedures
relating to international adoptions and birth certificates for such
adoptees. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 1000 amends the Family Code to require an adoption order
rendered to a United States citizen that is made under due process of law
by a foreign country to be accorded full faith and credit by the courts of
this state and enforced as if the order were rendered by a court in this
state. 

The bill authorizes a person who adopts a child in a foreign country to
register the order in this state.  The bill authorizes a petition for
registration of a foreign adoption order to be combined with a petition for
a name change.  If the court finds that the foreign adoption order is made
under due process of law by a foreign country, the bill requires the court
to order the state registrar to register the order and issue a certificate
of birth for the adopted child. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.