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89(R) HB 4795 - Enrolled version - Bill Text
H.B. No. 4795
AN ACT
relating to duties of the vital statistics unit of the Department of
State Health Services in relation to certain suits affecting the
parent-child relationship, including in regard to the electronic
transmission of certain information.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 155.101, Family Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
follows:
(b) The vital statistics unit shall, on the [
written
]
request of the
Department of Family and Protective Services, the
court, an attorney, or a party:
(1) identify the court that last had continuing,
exclusive jurisdiction of the child in a suit and give the docket
number of the suit; or
(2) state that the child has not been the subject of a
suit.
(e)
Using existing resources, the vital statistics unit
shall establish an electronic process through which the Department
of Family and Protective Services may request information under
this section.
SECTION 2. Section 160.422, Family Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b) to read as
follows:
(a-1)
Using existing resources, the vital statistics unit
shall establish an electronic process through which the Department
of Family and Protective Services may request information under
this section.
(b) The certificate of the results of a search must
include
a digitized or written signature
[
be signed
] on behalf of the unit
and state that:
(1) a search has been made of the registry; and
(2) a registration containing the information
required to identify the registrant:
(A) has been found and is attached to the
certificate; or
(B) has not been found.
SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement the
changes in law made by this Act.
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
a request received by the vital statistics unit of the Department of
State Health Services on or after January 1, 2026. A request
received before January 1, 2026, is governed by the law in effect
immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former
law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
______________________________
______________________________
President of the Senate
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 4795 was passed by the House on May
16, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 121, Nays 1, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 4795 was passed by the Senate on May
27, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor