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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to access to records and certain information in those |
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records regarding a child placed for adoption. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 162.006, Family Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) The department, licensed child-placing agency, or other |
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person[, or entity] placing a child for adoption shall inform the |
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prospective adoptive parents of their right to examine the records |
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and other information relating to the history of the child. The |
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department, licensed child-placing agency, or other person [or
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entity] placing the child for adoption shall edit the records and |
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information to protect the identity of the biological parents and |
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any other person whose identity is confidential. |
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(a-1) The records described by Subsection (a) must include |
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any records relating to an investigation of abuse in which the child |
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was an alleged or confirmed victim of sexual abuse while residing in |
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a foster home or other residential child-care facility. If the |
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licensed child-placing agency or other person placing the child for |
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adoption does not have the information required by this subsection, |
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the department, at the request of the licensed child-placing agency |
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or other person placing the child for adoption, shall provide the |
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information to the prospective adoptive parents of the child. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |