BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 703

By: Nelson

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

When a child in state conservatorship is placed for adoption, the Department of Family and Protective Services requests the child's certified birth certificate from the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and transfers funds to cover the cost of providing that information through an interagency transfer process. Adoptions have been delayed for some children in state conservatorship because it is difficult to obtain the court-required certified birth certificate.

S.B. 703 prohibits DSHS from collecting a fee for a certified birth certificate for a child in the state's conservatorship who is ready for adoption in certain circumstances.

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

S.B. 703 amends the Health and Safety Code to prohibit the Department of State Health Services from collecting a fee or other amount for verification of birth information or provision of a certified copy of a birth record for a child in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services if parental rights to the child have been terminated and the child is eligible for adoption.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.