| 1 | 1 | | H.B. No. 2969 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | AN ACT |
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| 5 | 5 | | relating to prohibiting a maximum age or age differential for |
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| 6 | 6 | | prospective adoptive parents. |
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| 7 | 7 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 8 | 8 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 162, Family Code, is |
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| 9 | 9 | | amended by adding Section 162.604 to read as follows: |
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| 10 | 10 | | Sec. 162.604. MAXIMUM AGE RESTRICTION FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS |
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| 11 | 11 | | PROHIBITED. (a) The Department of Family and Protective Services, |
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| 12 | 12 | | a single source continuum contractor, or a licensed child-placing |
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| 13 | 13 | | agency that places a child for adoption may not implement or enforce |
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| 14 | 14 | | a policy that: |
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| 15 | 15 | | (1) sets a maximum age for any prospective adoptive |
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| 16 | 16 | | parent; or |
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| 17 | 17 | | (2) sets a maximum age differential between a child |
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| 18 | 18 | | and any prospective adoptive parent. |
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| 19 | 19 | | (b) Subject to Subsection (a), the Department of Family and |
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| 20 | 20 | | Protective Services, a single source continuum contractor, or a |
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| 21 | 21 | | licensed child-placing agency may consider the health and expected |
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| 22 | 22 | | lifespan of each prospective adoptive parent when determining the |
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| 23 | 23 | | best interest of a child. |
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| 24 | 24 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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| 25 | 25 | | ______________________________ ______________________________ |
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| 26 | 26 | | President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
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| 27 | 27 | | I certify that H.B. No. 2969 was passed by the House on May 9, |
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| 28 | 28 | | 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 2, 2 present, not |
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| 29 | 29 | | voting. |
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| 30 | 30 | | ______________________________ |
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| 31 | 31 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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| 32 | 32 | | I certify that H.B. No. 2969 was passed by the Senate on May |
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| 33 | 33 | | 23, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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| 34 | 34 | | ______________________________ |
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| 35 | 35 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 36 | 36 | | APPROVED: _____________________ |
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| 37 | 37 | | Date |
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| 38 | 38 | | _____________________ |
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| 39 | 39 | | Governor |
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