84R7413 KKA-D
	By: Bonnen of Galveston	H.B. No. 1781

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to access of an adopted child to the adopted child's
	biological siblings in certain circumstances.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 102, Family Code, is amended by adding
	Section 102.0046 to read as follows:
	Sec. 102.0046.  STANDING FOR ADOPTIVE PARENT. The parent of
	an adopted child may file an original suit requesting access to a
	biological sibling of the child as provided by Section 162.024.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 162, Family Code, is
	amended by adding Section 162.024 to read as follows:
	Sec. 162.024.  ACCESS TO SIBLINGS. (a) In this section:
	(1)  "Biological sibling" means a person with whom a
	child shares a common birth parent.
	(2)  "Birth parent" has the meaning assigned by Section
	162.402.
	(b)  The parent of an adopted child may file an original suit
	to request access on behalf of the child to a biological sibling of
	the child adopted by another person.
	(c)  Subsection (b) applies only to the extent that a parent
	of an adopted child is aware of the existence of a biological
	sibling adopted by another person and the identity of that person,
	and does not entitle the parent to confidential information
	regarding a biological sibling or adoptive parent.
	(d)  The court shall order reasonable access to the
	biological sibling if the court finds that access is in the best
	interest of both children.
	SECTION 3.  Section 162.018, Family Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:
	(c-1)  The department, a licensed child-placing agency, or
	another entity or person placing a child for adoption shall provide
	the child's adoptive parent with any information known to the
	department, agency, entity, or person that is not confidential
	regarding the adoption of a biological sibling, as defined by
	Section 162.024, of the child by another person.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.