HBA-NLM, NLM H.B. 625 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 625
By: Reyna, Arthur
Juvenile Justice and Family Issues
2/25/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law provides that the hearing date to finalize an adoption must be
held 40 to 60 days after the later of the date a court orders a social
study evaluation (regarding the suitability of a prospective adoptive
parent) or the date a request for criminal history record information.
H.B. 625 makes the latest possible date for a hearing on an adoption 180
days, rather than 60 days, after the social study is ordered or criminal
history record information is requested.  This bill makes the time period
in which the child must reside with the prospective parents before adoption
may be finalized to coincide with the necessary length of time to conclude
adoption procedures. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 162.004, Family Code, as amended by Section 74,
Chapter 751, and Section 1, Chapter 908, Acts of the 74th Legislature,
Regular Session, 1995, by reenacting and amending, as follows: 

Sec.  162.004.  TIME FOR HEARING.  Increases the latest date for a hearing
on an adoption under this chapter to the 180th day after the later of the
date the social study is ordered or the date criminal history record
information under Section 162.0085 (Criminal History Report Required),
rather than the 60th day after. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.
                       Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.