SRC-VRA H.B. 2886 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterH.B. 2886
By: Van Arsdale (Lindsay)
Health & Human Services
5/10/2003
Engrossed

DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently when an attorney submits an incorrect or incomplete form
mandated by Texas law, the Bureau of Vital Statistics returns the form to
the district clerk.  The district clerk has no enforcement authority to
encourage attorneys to make the corrections or additions to the form. H.B.
2886 requires certain forms submitted to the Bureau of Vital Statistics
which need corrections to be mailed directly from the Bureau of Vital
Statistics to the attorney of record designated on the certificate. 


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 192.009, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subsection (d), as follows: 

(d)  Requires the bureau of vital statistics (bureau), if the bureau
determines that a certificate filed with the state registrar under this
section requires correction, to mail the certificate directly to an
attorney of record with respect to the petition of adoption, annulment of
adoption, or revocation of adoption. Requires the attorney to return the
corrected certificate to the bureau. Requires the bureau, if there is no
attorney of record, to mail the certificate to the clerk of the court for
correction. 
 
SECTION 2.  Amends Section 194.002, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subsection (f), as follows: 
 
(f)  Requires the bureau, if the bureau determines that a report filed
with the bureau under this section requires correction, to mail the report
form directly to an attorney of record with respect to the divorce or
annulment of marriage. Requires the attorney to return the corrected
report form to the bureau. Requires the bureau, if there is no attorney of
record, to mail the report form to the district clerk for correction. 
 
SECTION 3.  Amends Section 108.003, Family Code, by adding Subsection (c),
as follows: 
 
(c)  Requires the bureau, if the bureau determines that a report filed
with the bureau under this section requires correction, to mail the report
directly to an attorney of record with respect to the adoption. Requires
the attorney to return the corrected report to the bureau. Requires the
bureau, if there is no attorney of record, to mail the report to the clerk
of the court for correction. 
 
SECTION 4.  Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 6, Family Code, by adding Section
6.410, as follows: 
 
Sec. 6.410.  REPORT TO ACCOMPANY PETITION.  Requires the petitioner, at
the time a petition for divorce or annulment of a marriage is filed, to
also file a completed report that may be used by the district clerk, at
the time the petition is granted, to comply  with Section 194.002, Health
and Safety Code. 

SECTION 5.  Amends Subchapter G, Chapter 162, Family Code, by adding
Section 162.602, as follows: 
 
Sec. 162.602.  DOCUMENTATION TO ACCOMPANY PETITION FOR ADOPTION OR
ANNULMENT OR REVOCATION OF ADOPTION.  Requires the petitioner, at the time
a petition for adoption or annulment or revocation of adoption is filed,
to also file completed documentation that may be used by the clerk of the
court, at the time the petition is granted, to comply with Section
192.009, Health and Safety Code, and Section 108.003. 
 
SECTION 6.Effect date:  September 1, 2003.  
  Makes application of this Act