BILL ANALYSIS
By: Puente
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, Section 161.103(b)(1) of the Family Code, requires the affidavit of voluntary relinquishment of parental rights to contain the address of the parent whose rights are being relinquished. Moreover, Section 161.103(b)(7)(A) of the Family Code, requires the affidavit to contain the address of the other parent. Furthermore, Section 161.103 of the Family Code, states the name of the agency as the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, however, during the 78th Legislative Session, House Bill 2292 changed the agency name to the current name, which is the Department of Family and Protective Services.
H.B.568 would give parents who have voluntarily relinquished their parental rights a higher degree of confidentiality. Additionally, H.B.568 updates the agency name in the Family Code from the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services to the current name which is the Department of Family and Protective Services.
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.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 161.103(b)(1) and (b)(7)(A) of the Family Code by deleting the address requirement and providing for a county of residence to be included in the affidavit of the parent whose parental rights are being relinquished. Additionally, Subsection (b)(12) is updated to reflect the current agency name of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an affidavit of voluntary relinquishment of parental rights executed on or after the effective date of this act. An affidavit executed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the affidavit was executed.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007