89R9185 KRM-F     By: Noble H.B. No. 4795       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   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)  The vital statistics unit shall establish an electronic   process through which the Department of Family and Protective   Services, the court, an attorney, or a party may request   information under this section.           SECTION 2.  Section 160.422, Family Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (a-1) to   read as follows:          (a)  Not later than the 10th day after the date a request is   received from an individual, a court, or an agency listed in Section   160.412(b), the [The] vital statistics unit shall furnish a   certificate of the results of a search of the registry [on request   by an individual, a court, or an agency listed in Section   160.412(b)].          (a-1)  The vital statistics unit shall establish an   electronic process through which an individual, a court, or an   agency listed in Section 160.412(b) 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.