C.S.H.B. 2886 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 2886
By: Van Arsdale
Human Services
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law for certain adoption, divorce, and annulment matters,
the Bureau of Vital Statistics (bureau) mandates that particular forms be
filed with it by the attorney of record on the specific family law matter.
When a submitted form turns out to be incorrect or incomplete, under
current law, the bureau mails the incorrect or incomplete form to the
county district clerk, who then forwards the form to the attorney of
record for correction. CSHB 2886 would eliminate the role of  the county
district clerk and require the bureau to mail the incomplete forms
directly to the attorney of record, ensuring a more rapid response and
alleviating an unfunded mandate.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

ANALYSIS

CSHB 2886 amends the Health and Safety Code by requiring adoption
certificates and  reports of divorce or annulment that need correction be
mailed directly from the Bureau of Vital Statistics (bureau) to the
attorney of record listed on the certificate rather than back to the
county district clerk and then to the attorney of record. The bill
requires if there is no attorney of record, the bureau must mail the
certificate to the clerk of the court for correction. The bill provides
that the provisions of the bill applies only to a certificate or report
requiring corrections following the effective date. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

CSHB 2886 varies from the original by requiring that if there is no
attorney of record, the bureau must mail the certificate or report to the
clerk of court for correction.