By: Slawson H.B. No. 4611       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to certain voluntary registries in relation to the   adoption of or the termination of parental rights regarding a   child.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 160.422(a), Family Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  The vital statistics unit shall furnish a certificate of   the results of a search of the registry not later than the 10th   business day after the date of the receipt of a [on] request by an   individual, a court, or an agency listed in Section 160.412(b).          SECTION 2.  Section 162.405(b), Family Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  On receiving an inquiry by an adoptee, birth parent, or   sibling who has provided satisfactory proof of age and identity   [and paid all required inquiry fees], the administrator of the   central registry shall review the information on file in the   central index and consult with the administrators of other   registries in the state to determine the identity of any   appropriate registry through which the adoptee, birth parent, or   sibling may register.          SECTION 3.  Section 162.407, Family Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (a) and (d) and adding Subsection (d-1) to   read as follows:          (a)  The administrator shall require each registration   applicant to sign a written application or electronically sign an   online application.          (d)  The administrator may not accept an application for   registration unless the applicant:                (1)  provides proof of identity as provided by Section   162.408; and                (2)  establishes the applicant's eligibility to   register[; and                [(3)  pays all required registration fees].          (d-1)  The administrator shall ensure that an applicant may   submit the application and proof of identity under Subsection (d)   through an online submission portal.          SECTION 4.  Section 162.409(a), Family Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  An application must contain:                (1)  the name, address, [and] telephone number, and   e-mail address of the applicant;                (2)  any other name or alias by which the applicant has   been known;                (3)  the age, date of birth, and place of birth of the   applicant;                (4)  the original name of the adoptee, if known;                (5)  the adoptive name of the adoptee, if known;                (6)  a statement that the applicant is willing to allow   the applicant's identity to be disclosed to a registrant who is   eligible to learn the applicant's identity;                (7)  the name, address, and telephone number of the   agency or other entity, organization, or person placing the adoptee   for adoption, if known, or, if not known, a statement that the   applicant does not know that information;                (8)  an authorization to the administrator and the   administrator's designees to inspect all vital statistics records,   court records, and agency records, including confidential records,   relating to the birth, adoption, marriage, and divorce of the   applicant or to the birth and death of any child or sibling by birth   or adoption of the applicant;                (9)  the specific address to which the applicant wishes   notice of a successful match to be mailed;                (10)  a statement that the applicant either does or   does not consent to disclosure of identifying information about the   applicant after the applicant's death;                (11)  a statement that the registration is to be   effective for 99 years or for a stated shorter period selected by   the applicant; and                (12)  a statement that the adoptee applicant either   does or does not desire to be informed that registry records   indicate that the applicant has a biological sibling who has   registered under this subchapter.          SECTION 5.  Section 162.412(b), Family Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  The administrator does not have a duty to search for a   registrant who fails to register a change of name or address, except   that the administrator shall attempt to contact by e-mail a   registrant who has provided an e-mail address if a match has been   made but a name or address discrepancy is preventing the   administrator from confirming the match.          SECTION 6.  Section 162.416(a), Family Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  When a match has been made and confirmed to the   administrator's satisfaction, the administrator shall mail to each   registrant, at the registrant's last known address, by fax or   registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, delivery   restricted to addressee only, a written notice:                (1)  informing the registrant that a match has been   made and confirmed;                (2)  reminding the registrant that the registrant may   withdraw the registration before disclosures are made, if desired;   and                (3)  notifying the registrant that before any   identifying disclosures are made, the registrant must[:                      [(A)]  sign a written consent to disclosure that   allows the disclosure of identifying information about the other   registrants to the registrant and allows the disclosure of   identifying information about the registrant to other   registrants[;                      [(B)  participate in counseling for not less than   one hour with a social worker or mental health professional who has   expertise in postadoption counseling; and                      [(C)  provide the administrator with written   certification that the counseling required under Subdivision (B)   has been completed].          SECTION 7.  Sections 162.411 and 162.413, Family Code, are   repealed.          SECTION 8.  Section 160.422, Family Code, as amended by this   Act, applies only to a request for a search of the state registry of   paternity made on or after the effective date of this Act.  A   request for a search of the state registry of paternity made before   the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on   the date the request was made, and the former law is continued in   effect for that purpose.          SECTION 9.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the vital statistics unit of the Department of State   Health Services shall update as necessary the application as   required by Section 162.409(a), Family Code, as amended by this   Act.          SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.