By Van de Putte                                        S.B. No. 879
         77R5619 KSD-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a change of name and vital statistics information.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 45, Family Code, is amended
 1-5     by adding Section 45.107 to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 45.107.  CHANGE OF NAME AND VITAL STATISTICS
 1-7     INFORMATION.  (a)  A court shall order a change of name for a
 1-8     petitioner under this subchapter if the petition is accompanied by
 1-9     a sworn affidavit of a licensed physician that the petitioner
1-10     identifies as a gender other than the gender indicated on the
1-11     petitioner's driver's license, birth certificate, or other official
1-12     document.
1-13           (b)  A court that orders a change of name for a petitioner
1-14     under this section shall simultaneously order:
1-15                 (1)  that the Department of Public Safety, as soon as
1-16     practicable, change the petitioner's gender on the petitioner's
1-17     driver's license and other identification documents under the
1-18     department's control; and
1-19                 (2)  that the Texas Department of Health, on receipt of
1-20     a physician's sworn affidavit that the petitioner identifies as a
1-21     gender other than the gender indicated on the petitioner's birth
1-22     certificate, amend the petitioner's birth certificate as provided
1-23     by Section 192.011, Health and Safety Code, to reflect the
1-24     petitioner's true gender.
 2-1           (c)  This section may not be construed to require surgical
 2-2     intervention as a prerequisite for a court order under Subsection
 2-3     (a) or (b).
 2-4           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.