78R5794 KLA-D

By:  Phillips                                                     H.B. No. 1689



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain agreements in connection with an adoption 
order.        
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 162.016, Family Code, is amended by 
adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
	(d)  The parties to an adoption may enter into a written 
agreement specifying the terms of the adoption, including terms:
		(1)  allowing a person whose parent-child relationship 
with respect to the adopted child is terminated to have possession 
of or access to the child at specified times; and
		(2)  providing for other contact between that person 
and the adopted child.
	(e)  If the parties to an adoption enter into an agreement 
authorized by Subsection (d), the court shall render an adoption 
order in accordance with the agreement.  The terms of the agreement 
contained in the adoption order or incorporated by reference may be 
enforced by all remedies available for enforcement of a judgment, 
including contempt, but are not enforceable as a contract.
	SECTION 2.  Section 162.016, Family Code, as amended by this 
Act, applies to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship in 
which an adoption is sought that is pending in a trial court on or 
that is filed on or after the effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.