Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB329 by Creighton (Relating to birth records of adopted persons.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code and Family Code relating to birth records of adopted persons. The bill would authorize the state registrar to provide, upon written request, a noncertified copy of an adopted person's birth certificate to that person or to a specified family member if certain conditions exist. The bill allows for a fee to be collected for each certificate equal to the fee charged for any other noncertified birth certificate (currently $10). Compliance with this provision would not be required until July 1, 2018.
The bill would also require that the state registrar develop a contact preference form that birth parents would be required to complete and a supplemental medical history form that birth parents could choose to complete. Completed forms could be provided to a person eligible to receive an adopted person's noncertified birth certificate. The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) would be required to make the forms available on the DSHS website and in the state registrar's office. The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) would be required to provide a contact preference form to the birth parents and forward each completed form to the state registrar. The bill requires that the forms be developed no later than January 1, 2018.
Based on the LBB's analysis of information provided by DSHS, DFPS and the Office of Court Administration, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 537 State Health Services, Department of