S.B. 579 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 579
By: Lindsay
Human Services
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current Texas law requires the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services (department) 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. As proposed, Senate Bill 579 provides that
the department 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, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 579 amends the Family Code by providing that the Department of
Protective and Regulatory Services (department), in an adoption in which
the child is placed for adoption by the department, is not required to
edit records to protect the identity of birth parents and other persons
whose identity is confidential if the department 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. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.