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 Nevertheless, Section 45.102 of the Family Code was re-codified and the requirement was repealed in 1995.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.