By: Puente (Senate Sponsor - Wentworth) H.B. No. 567

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 1, 2007; May 2, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Jurisprudence; May 18, 2007, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 18, 2007, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 567 By: Wentworth

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the state registry of paternity.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 160.415, Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 160.415. UNTIMELY REGISTRATION. If a man registers later than the 31st [30th] day after the date of the birth of the child, the bureau of vital statistics shall notify the registrant that the registration was not timely filed.

SECTION 2. Section 160.421(a), Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) If a father-child relationship has not been established under this chapter, a petitioner for the adoption of or the termination of parental rights regarding the child must obtain a certificate of the results of a search of the registry. The petitioner may request a search of the registry on or after the 32nd day after the date of the birth of the child, and the bureau of vital statistics may not by rule impose a waiting period that must elapse before the bureau will conduct the requested search.

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, 2007.

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