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By:  Hunter                                                       H.B. No. 806



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the recognition of foreign adoptions and the issuance 
of a supplementary birth certificate.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.   Subchapter A, Chapter 162, Family Code, is 
amended by adding Section 162.023 to read as follows:
	Sec. 162.023.  ADOPTION ORDER FROM FOREIGN COUNTRY.  (a)  
Except as otherwise provided by federal law, an adoption order 
rendered to a resident of this state that is made by a foreign 
country shall be accorded full faith and credit by the courts of 
this state and enforced as if the order were rendered by a court in 
this state unless the adoption law of the foreign country violates 
the fundamental principles of human rights.
	(b)  A person who adopts a child in a foreign country may 
register the order in this state.  A petition for registration of a 
foreign adoption order may be combined with a petition for a name 
change.  If the court finds that the foreign adoption order meets 
the requirements of Subsection (a), the court shall order the state 
registrar to:
		(1)  register the order under Chapter 192, Health and 
Safety Code; and
		(2)  file a certificate of birth for the child under 
Section 192.006, Health and Safety Code.
	SECTION 2.   This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.