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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to access to certain health records and information by |
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certain individuals regarding a child placed in foster care. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 162.0062, Family Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a-1) and adding Subsection (a-2) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a-1) If a child is placed with a prospective adoptive |
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parent prior to adoption or if a child who is medically fragile is |
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placed with or is to be placed with a foster parent, the prospective |
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adoptive parent, the foster parent, or the prospective foster |
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parent, as applicable, is entitled to examine any record or other |
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information relating to the child's health history, including the |
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portion of the report prepared under Section 162.005 for the child |
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that relates to the child's health. The department, licensed |
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child-placing agency, single source continuum contractor, or other |
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person placing a child for adoption shall inform the prospective |
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adoptive parent, the foster parent, or the prospective foster |
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parent of that individual's [the prospective adoptive parent's] |
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right to examine the records and other information relating to the |
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child's health history. The department, licensed child-placing |
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agency, single source continuum contractor, or other person placing |
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the child for adoption shall edit the records and information to |
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protect the identity of the biological parents and any other person |
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whose identity is confidential. |
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(a-2) In this section, "child who is medically fragile" |
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means a child who qualifies for benefits under the medically |
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dependent children (MDCP) waiver program. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |