H.B. 162 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 162
By: Flores
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, when petitioning to change the name of an adult,
Section 45.102 (a) of the Family Code requires that a petitioner, provide
their present name and place of residence, the full name requested, the
reason for the change in name, and whether petitioner has been the subject
of a final felony conviction.  Prior to the 74th Legislature, as part of
the petition for a legal name change, an applicant had to additionally
provide, "a completed fingerprint card on a form approved by the
Department of Public Safety."  Nevertheless, Section 45.102 of the Family
Code was re-codified and the requirement was repealed in 1995. 

House Bill 162 would simply require a legible and complete set of the
petitioner's fingerprints for the Department of Public Safety and the
Federal Bureau of Investigation to ensure maximum security and safety to
the public.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 45.102(a), Family Code, by adding Subsection
(5) which provides that a legible and complete set of the petitioner's
fingerprints on a  
fingerprint card format acceptable to the Department of Public Safety and
the Federal Bureau of Investigation must be included in a petition to
change the name of an adult. 

SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003, and applies only to a
petition requesting a change of name filed on or after that date. A
petition requesting a change of name filed before the effective date of
this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the petition is
filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. 


EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.