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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to standing for certain persons to file a suit for the |
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adoption of a child. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 102.005, Family Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 102.005. STANDING TO REQUEST TERMINATION AND |
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ADOPTION. An original suit requesting only an adoption or for |
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termination of the parent-child relationship joined with a petition |
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for adoption may be filed by: |
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(1) a stepparent of the child; |
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(2) an adult who, as the result of a placement for |
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adoption, has had actual possession and control of the child at any |
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time during the 30-day period preceding the filing of the petition; |
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(3) an adult who has had actual possession and control |
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of the child for not less than two months during the three-month |
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period preceding the filing of the petition; [or] |
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(4) an adult who has adopted, or is the foster parent |
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of and has petitioned to adopt, a sibling of the child; or |
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(5) another adult whom the court determines to have |
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had substantial past contact with the child sufficient to warrant |
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standing to do so. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed on or after |
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the effective date of this Act. A suit affecting the parent-child |
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relationship filed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the suit was filed, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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* * * * * |