H.B. No. 461
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to a waiver of the requirement for the performance of an
  adoption evaluation in certain suits for adoption.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 107.153, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a) and (e) and adding Subsection (a-1) to
  read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), the [The] court
  shall order the performance of an adoption evaluation to evaluate
  each party who requests termination of the parent-child
  relationship or an adoption in a suit for:
               (1)  termination of the parent-child relationship in
  which a person other than a parent may be appointed managing
  conservator of a child; or
               (2)  an adoption.
         (a-1)  In a suit for adoption that is uncontested, the court
  may waive the requirement under Subsection (a) for the performance
  of an adoption evaluation of the prospective adoptive parent if:
               (1)  the prospective adoptive parent is a stepparent of
  the child; and 
               (2)  the court has reviewed investigative records of
  the department and any criminal history record information
  maintained by the Department of Public Safety relating to the
  prospective adoptive parent.
         (e)  The costs of conducting an adoption evaluation required
  under Subsection (a) or reviewing investigative records of the
  department and criminal history record information maintained by
  the Department of Public Safety under Subsection (a-1), as
  applicable, [this section] shall be paid by the prospective
  adoptive parent.
         SECTION 2.  Section 162.003, Family Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 162.003.  ADOPTION EVALUATION. In a suit for adoption,
  an adoption evaluation must be conducted as provided in Chapter
  107, unless the court waives the requirement for the performance of
  an adoption evaluation under Section 107.153(a-1).
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a suit for adoption that is pending in trial court on the
  effective date of this Act or filed on or after the effective date
  of this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 461 was passed by the House on May 6,
  2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 133, Nays 1, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 461 was passed by the Senate on May
  24, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor