BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 984

By: Elkins

Technology

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently in Texas, a county clerk is required to distribute to each applicant for a marriage license printed materials about acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as well as a premarital education handbook that is developed under state law. H.B. 984 seeks to provide counties with an alternative medium for distributing such information to applicants.

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

H.B. 984 amends the Family Code to require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to prepare and make available to the public on its Internet website information about acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and removes a requirement that DSHS provide such information to a county clerk. The bill requires the premarital education handbook to be made available in an electronic form on a publicly accessible Internet website. The bill requires the county clerk, on the proper execution of an application for a marriage license, to distribute to each applicant written notice of the online location of the information about AIDS and HIV and to distribute either the premarital education handbook or written notice of the online location of such handbook.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.