adoptive parents get to see the child’s confidential records

The text as introduced · 433 words

89R467 MLH-F

By: Shaheen
H.B. No. 2144

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to access to certain information in the adoption process.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 162.005(b) and (c), Family Code, are

amended to read as follows:

(b) Before placing a child for adoption, the Department of

Family and Protective Services, a licensed child-placing agency, or

the child's parent or guardian shall compile a report on the

available health, social, educational, and genetic history of the

child to be adopted and distribute the report as required by this

chapter .

(c) The department shall ensure that each licensed

child-placing agency, single source continuum contractor, or other

person placing a child for adoption receives a copy of any portion

of the report prepared by the department not later than the 30th day

after the date the child's permanency plan is changed to include

adoption .

SECTION 2. Section 162.0062, Family Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-2) and (a-3) to

read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the prospective

adoptive parents of a child are entitled to examine the records and

other information relating to the history of the child , including

confidential information other than the identity of the biological

parents and any other person whose identity is confidential . The

Department of Family and Protective Services, licensed

child-placing agency, or other person placing a child for adoption

shall inform the prospective adoptive parents of their right to

examine the records and other information relating to the history

of the child. The department, licensed child-placing agency, or

other person placing the child for adoption shall :

(1) redact each social security number from the

records and information; and

(2) edit the records and information to protect the

identity of the biological parents , any biological siblings adopted

by a different family, the adoptive parents of those biological

siblings, any person who made a report of abuse or neglect to the

department or a law enforcement agency, and any [ other ] person

whose identity is confidential under Section 262.308 .

(a-2) A prospective adoptive parent must sign a

nondisclosure agreement before the department, licensed

child-placing agency, or other person placing the child for

adoption may release confidential information under this section.

(a-3) The department, licensed child-placing agency, or

other person placing the child for adoption shall provide the

information under this section not later than the 90th day after the

date the information is requested.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.