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| 1 | 1 | 86R6081 JSC-D | |
| 2 | 2 | By: Kuempel H.B. No. 3065 | |
| 3 | 3 | ||
| 4 | 4 | ||
| 5 | 5 | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED | |
| 6 | 6 | AN ACT | |
| 7 | 7 | relating to adoption by a stepparent. | |
| 8 | 8 | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | |
| 9 | 9 | SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 162, Family Code, is | |
| 10 | 10 | amended by adding Section 162.0027 to read as follows: | |
| 11 | 11 | Sec. 162.0027. ADOPTION BY STEPPARENT. (a) In a suit for | |
| 12 | 12 | adoption, a court or person performing an adoption evaluation may | |
| 13 | 13 | not grant preference to a relative of the child over a stepparent of | |
| 14 | 14 | the child solely on the basis of consanguinity. | |
| 15 | 15 | (b) If a parent of the child dies, leaving the child with no | |
| 16 | 16 | living parent whose parental rights have not been terminated, the | |
| 17 | 17 | court may grant a stepparent's petition for adoption on an | |
| 18 | 18 | expedited basis, provided that all requirements of this chapter are | |
| 19 | 19 | fulfilled. The child may reside with the stepparent while the | |
| 20 | 20 | adoption petition is pending, unless the court finds that would not | |
| 21 | 21 | be in the best interest of the child. | |
| 22 | 22 | SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a | |
| 23 | 23 | petition for adoption filed on or after the effective date of this | |
| 24 | 24 | Act. | |
| 25 | 25 | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |