S.B. 151 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 151
By: Jackson
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas law contains no provisions regarding the adoption of a
child from a foreign country by a citizen of the United States.
Therefore, the procedure for such an adoption is determined by each
individual county, and there are concerns of conflicting procedures among
counties.  Texas is one of seventeen states with no statutes addressing
foreign adoptions.  As proposed, S.B.151 provides a unified procedure
throughout the state relating to international adoptions and birth
certificates for such adoptees.  


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 Subchapter A, Chapter 162, Family Code, by adding
Section 162.023, which requires the courts of this state to recognize and
enforce an adoption order rendered to a U.S. citizen under foreign law as
if it were rendered by a court in this state, except as otherwise provided
by federal law. (b) This bill further authorizes a person who adopts a
child in a foreign country to register the order in this state and to
combine the petition for registration with a petition for a name change.
Requires the court to order the state registrar to take certain actions
upon finding that the foreign adoption order meets the requirements of
Subsection (a). 

SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September1, 2003.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.