H.B. No. 1999




AN ACT
relating to the preparation of medical history reports by parents who relinquish children for adoption. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 161, Family Code, is amended by adding Section 161.1031 to read as follows: Sec. 161.1031. MEDICAL HISTORY REPORT. (a) A parent who signs an affidavit of voluntary relinquishment of parental rights under Section 161.103 regarding a biological child must also prepare a medical history report that addresses the medical history of the parent and the parent's ancestors. (b) The Department of Family and Protective Services, in cooperation with the Department of State Health Services, shall adopt a form that a parent may use to comply with this section. The form must be designed to permit a parent to identify any medical condition of the parent or the parent's ancestors that could indicate a predisposition for the child to develop the condition. (c) The medical history report shall be used in preparing the health, social, educational, and genetic history report required by Section 162.005 and shall be made available to persons granted access under Section 162.006 in the manner provided by that section. SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 161, Family Code, is amended by adding Section 161.2021 to read as follows: Sec. 161.2021. MEDICAL HISTORY REPORT. (a) In a termination suit, the court shall order each parent before the court to provide information regarding the medical history of the parent and the parent's ancestors. (b) A parent may comply with the court's order under this section by completing the medical history report form adopted by the Department of Family and Protective Services under Section 161.1031. (c) If the Department of Family and Protective Services is a party to the termination suit, the information provided under this section must be maintained in the department records relating to the child and made available to persons with whom the child is placed. SECTION 3. Section 161.1031, Family Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a person who signs an affidavit of voluntary relinquishment of parental rights under Section 161.103, Family Code, on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 4. Section 161.2021, Family Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship pending in a trial court on the effective date of this Act or filed on or after that date. A suit affecting the parent-child relationship in which a final order is rendered before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the order was rendered. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 1999 was passed by the House on May 9, 2005, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 1999 was passed by the Senate on May 25, 2005, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor