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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
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