By: West, Menéndez S.B. No. 1341
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the application review process for certain delayed
birth certificates.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 192.025, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Subsections (f) and (g) to read as follows:
(f) The state registrar may not reject an application under
this subchapter based solely on the inclusion of supporting
evidence that contains inconsistent or contradictory information
if, based on the contents of the application as a whole, the state
registrar determines by a preponderance of the evidence the
applicant's identity and place of birth. In making a determination
under this subsection, the state registrar shall consider and give
weight to:
(1) any supporting evidence that raises a legitimate
question as to the applicant's actual place of birth;
(2) the inclusion of a valid driver's license or
personal identification certificate; and
(3) the inclusion of a verified affidavit by a person
with personal knowledge of the applicant's identity.
(g) Notwithstanding any other law, if a delayed birth
certificate of a person who was born before January 1, 1959, is
otherwise acceptable for registration and the identity of one
parent of the person is established by information not
contradictory to information available to the state registrar, the
state registrar shall register the certificate with only the
established parent's name entered on the certificate.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.