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.