HB 1973
AN ACT relating to proof of the identity of a child's parents in a suit
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
This Texas bill requires petitioners in parent-child relationship suits to submit a certified copy of the child's birth certificate to the court when available. If a birth certificate cannot be obtained, the court may request alternative proof of parental identity from involved parties. The bill aims to provide courts with more comprehensive documentation in cases involving parent-child relationships, while maintaining confidentiality of submitted documents.
Bill Text
relating to proof of the identity of a child's parents in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 102.008, Family Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c-1) and amending Subsection (d) to read as (c-1) The petitioner shall additionally submit to the court a certified copy of the child's birth certificate if available to the petitioner. If a certified copy of the child's birth certificate is not available to the petitioner, the court at any time during the pendency of the suit may request another party to whom a certified copy of the child's birth certificate is available to submit a copy to the court. If a certified copy of the child's birth certificate is not available to any party or if the copy does not name both of the child's parents, the court may request from any party at any time during the pendency of the suit alternative proof of the identity of the child's parents. The court shall keep confidential any certificate or other proof submitted under this (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if the Title IV-D agency files a petition in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship, the agency is not required to: (1) include in the petition the statement described by (2) attach copies of the documentation described by (3) submit to the court a copy of a child's birth certificate or other proof of the identity of the child's parents as SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship that is filed on or after the effective date of this Act. A suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the suit was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Expert Lobbyists for This Bill
These lobbyists specialize in Aliens and related subject areas.
Haley Cornyn
Gavin L. Massingill
Shera Eichler
Jennifer Shelley Rodriguez
Ky Ash
Nora Del Bosque
Craig Holzheauser
Jacob Smith
Elizabeth Hadley
Clayton Pope
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to proof of the identity of a child's parents in a suit
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