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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to proof of the identity of a child's parents in a suit |
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affecting the parent-child relationship. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 102.008, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c-1) and amending Subsection (d) to read as |
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follows: |
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(c-1) The petitioner shall additionally submit to the court |
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a certified copy of the child's birth certificate if available to |
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the petitioner. If a certified copy of the child's birth |
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certificate is not available to the petitioner, the court at any |
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time during the pendency of the suit may request another party to |
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whom a certified copy of the child's birth certificate is available |
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to submit a copy to the court. If a certified copy of the child's |
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birth certificate is not available to any party or if the copy does |
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not name both of the child's parents, the court may request from any |
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party at any time during the pendency of the suit alternative proof |
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of the identity of the child's parents. The court shall keep |
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confidential any certificate or other proof submitted under this |
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subsection. |
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(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if |
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the Title IV-D agency files a petition in a suit affecting the |
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parent-child relationship, the agency is not required to: |
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(1) include in the petition the statement described by |
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Subsection (b)(11); [or] |
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(2) attach copies of the documentation described by |
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Subsection (c); or |
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(3) submit to the court a copy of a child's birth |
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certificate or other proof of the identity of the child's parents as |
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described by Subsection (c-1). |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a |
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suit affecting the parent-child relationship that is filed on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. A suit affecting the |
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parent-child relationship filed before the effective date of this |
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Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the suit was filed, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |