SRC-AMY S.B. 579 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 579
By: Lindsay
State Affairs
8-5-2003
Enrolled

DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current Texas law requires the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services (DPRS) to edit documents and records related to an adoption in
order to protect the identity of the birth parents or other persons whose
identity is confidential. S.B. 579 provides that DPRS is not required to
do so if the confidential information is already known to the birth
parents or can easily be obtained through other sources, such as court
records related to the child's custody. 

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 Subchapter A, Chapter 162, Family Code, by adding
Section 162.0065, as follows: 

Sec.  162.0065.  EDITING ADOPTION RECORDS IN DEPARTMENT PLACEMENT.
Provides that the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (DPRS),
in an adoption in which the child is placed for adoption by DPRS, is not
required to edit records to protect the identity of birth parents and
other persons whose identity is confidential if DPRS determines that such
information is already known to the adoptive parent or readily available
through other sources, including certain court records, notwithstanding
any other provision of this chapter. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 261.201(d), Family Code, to make a conforming
change. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.
Makes application of this Act prospective.