Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2089 by Coleman (Relating to a change of name and vital statistics information for an adult.), As Introduced
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time due to the unavailability of data collected on the gender of an individual.
The bill would amend the Family Code to require a court to order a change of name for a petitioner whose petition is accompanied by a sworn affidavit from a licensed physician stating the petitioner identifies as a gender other than the gender indicated on the petitioner's driver's license, birth certificate, or other official document. The bill would not require a surgical procedure to be a prerequisite for a court order under the provision of the bill.
The bill would require a court that orders a change of name for a petitioner to simultaneously order the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to change the petitioner's name and gender on the petitioner's driver's license and other identification documents under the department's control, as well as order the vital statistics unit of the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to amend the petitioner's gender on their birth certificate.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2019.
Currently, DPS and DSHS do not collect data on the gender of an individual for a driver's license, birth certificate, or other official documents. The bill as written cannot be implemented and therefore, the cost to implement the provisions of the bill cannot be determined.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 405 Department of Public Safety, 537 State Health Services, Department of