Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas House Bill HB4470

Voted on by House
 
Out of Senate Committee
 
Voted on by Senate
 
Governor Action
 
Bill Becomes Law
 

Caption

Relating to birth records of adopted children.

Impact

The changes implemented by HB4470 aim to enhance the rights of adopted individuals and their families. By allowing access to original birth certificates, the bill seeks to foster connections between adopted individuals and their biological families, thus promoting familial transparency and informed medical histories. This emphasis on connection is crucial for the health and emotional well-being of adopted adults, enabling them to access their roots and potentially forge relationships with their birth parents or siblings.

Summary

House Bill 4470 addresses the vital matter of birth records for adopted individuals. This legislation specifically amends existing provisions in the Health and Safety Code, allowing adopted individuals to access a noncertified copy of their original birth certificate if they were adopted on or after January 1, 2010, under certain conditions. Key stipulations include that the request must be made after the individual's 18th birthday and that adequate proof of identity must be provided. Adoption cases filed before this date will continue to follow prior laws, preserving the rights of those affected by earlier regulations.

Contention

Despite the positive outlook of improving access to personal information, there are notable contentions surrounding the bill. Opponents argue that the privacy rights of birth parents must be protected, and the release of such sensitive information could lead to unwanted contact or emotional distress. Consequently, the legislation includes provisions for birth parents to submit a contact preference form, dictating the nature of potential contact with adopted individuals. This measure aims to balance the rights of both adopted individuals seeking their origins and the privacy concerns of birth parents.

Additional-notes

In its implementation, the bill mandates that the state registrar maintain statistics on contact preference forms and the provision of medical histories, ensuring that the effects and usage of the system can be monitored effectively. This oversight is intended to assess how effectively the bill meets its goals while also protecting individual rights.

Companion Bills

TX SB499

Identical Relating to birth records of adopted children.

TX SB1277

Similar To Relating to birth records of adopted children.

Previously Filed As

TX HB2006

Relating to birth records of adopted persons; authorizing a fee.

TX SB2237

Relating to birth records of adopted persons; authorizing a fee.

TX HB752

Relating to a change of name and sex for certain persons and the issuance of associated birth records and documentation; authorizing a fee.

TX HB1102

Relating to a change of name and sex for certain persons and the issuance of associated vital records and documentation; authorizing a fee.

TX HB4123

Relating to access to and use of certain criminal history record information.

TX SB885

Relating to the grounds for terminating and reinstating a person's parental rights and the adoption of certain children.

TX SR320

Recognizing March 21, 2023, as Texas Adoptee Rights Day.

TX SB1785

Relating to the dissemination of criminal history record information by the Department of Public Safety.

TX HR564

Recognizing March 21, 2023, as Texas Adoptee Rights Day at the State Capitol.

TX SB162

Relating to the required inclusion of a person's sex on a birth certificate and prohibited change of sex on the birth certificate of certain minors.

Similar Bills

TX SB1277

Relating to birth records of adopted children.

TX SB499

Relating to birth records of adopted children.

TX SB912

Relating to birth records of adopted children.

TX SB287

Relating to birth records of adopted children.

TX HB2968

Relating to birth records of adopted children.

LA HB1028

Provides relative to certain birth records (RE INCREASE GF EX See Note)

LA SB231

Provides relative to certain birth records. (gov sig)

TX HB2725

Relating to birth records of adopted persons; authorizing a fee.