By: Hull H.B. No. 4730       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the voluntary relinquishment of parental rights,   adoption, and the regulation of child-placing agencies.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 161.103, Family Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (a) and (e) and adding Subsection (b-1) to   read as follows:          (a)  An affidavit for voluntary relinquishment of parental   rights must be:                (1)  on the form adopted by the Health and Human   Services Commission in conjunction with the Department of Family   and Protective Services under Subsection (b-1);                (2)  signed by the parent, whether or not a minor, whose   parental rights are to be relinquished on or after the seventh day   after the date of the birth of the child[, but not before 48 hours   after the birth of the child, by the parent, whether or not a minor,   whose parental rights are to be relinquished];                (3) [(2)]  witnessed by two credible persons; and                (4) [(3)]  verified before a person authorized to take   oaths.          (b-1)  The Health and Human Services Commission, in   conjunction with the Department of Family and Protective Services,   shall adopt and make available on each agency's publicly accessible   Internet website a form to be used for an affidavit for voluntary   relinquishment of parental rights. The form must include an   explanation of:                (1)  the circumstances under which an affidavit for   voluntary relinquishment of parental rights may be revoked and   procedures for revocation; and                (2)  the parent's right to:                      (A)  seek child support if the parent chooses to   not relinquish the parent's rights;                      (B)  consider alternatives to adoption, including   kinship care or temporary assistance;                      (C)  apply for and potentially receive government   benefits;                      (D)  consult with an attorney before signing the   affidavit;                      (E)  seek counseling regarding adoption and   relinquishment of parental rights;                      (F)  receive information regarding post-adoption   contact agreements;                      (G)  request non-identifying information   regarding prospective adoptive parents, including general   demographic information and information regarding lifestyle and   values;                      (H)  receive a copy of each signed document   related to the relinquishment of parental rights, including the   affidavit and any adoption agreement;                      (I)  receive any medical record or genetic   screening information related to the child before relinquishment;   and                      (J)  register with a mutual consent voluntary   adoption registry established under Subchapter E, Chapter 162,   including the central registry established and maintained by the   vital statistics unit.          (e)  The relinquishment in an affidavit that designates the   Department of Family and Protective Services or a licensed   child-placing agency to serve as the managing conservator is   irrevocable. A relinquishment in any other affidavit of   relinquishment is revocable [unless it expressly provides that it   is irrevocable] for [a stated period of time not to exceed] 60 days   after the date of its execution.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 162, Family Code, is   amended by adding Section 162.0063 to read as follows:          Sec. 162.0063.  NOTICE OF RIGHTS FOR PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE   PARENTS. (a)  In this section:                (1)  "Commission" means the Health and Human Services   Commission.                (2)  "Department" means the Department of Family and   Protective Services.          (b)  The commission, in conjunction with the department,   shall adopt a form to notify a prospective adoptive parent of the   parent's rights related to adoption. The commission and the   department shall make the form available on each agency's publicly   accessible Internet website.  The form must include an explanation   of an adoptive parent's right to:                (1)  know the location and conditions of the child's   birth, including any drugs administered to the child or the child's   mother during birth;                (2)  examine the records and other information relating   to the history of the child under Section 162.0062, including   prenatal records and genetic screening records;                (3)  be informed of any legal risks related to the   prospective adoption, including pending paternity claims or other   contests;                (4)  receive copies of all legal documents related to   the adoption;                (5)  request non-identifying information regarding the   biological parents and any biological siblings of the child,   including general demographic information;                (6)  seek access to post-adoption resources, including   counseling, legal assistance, and support groups; and                (7)  receive an itemized list of each cost associated   with an adoption.          (c)  The department, a licensed child-placing agency, or   other person placing a child for adoption shall provide the notice   adopted under this section to a prospective adoptive parent.          SECTION 3.  Section 42.042(h-1), Human Resources Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (h-1)  The executive commissioner shall adopt rules   governing:                (1)  the placement and care of children by a   child-placing agency, as necessary to ensure the health and safety   of those children;                (2)  the verification and monitoring of agency foster   homes and adoptive homes by a child-placing agency; [and]                (3)  minimum training standards for an employee,   director, or operator of a child-placing agency;                (4)  annual compliance reporting by child-placing   agencies;                (5)  random audits of child-placing agencies to ensure   compliance with training standards and licensing requirements;                (6)  procedures for the filing of a complaint against a   child-placing agency; and                (7)  if appropriate, child-placing agency staffing   levels, office locations, and administration.          SECTION 4.  The heading to Section 42.0421, Human Resources   Code, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 42.0421.  MINIMUM TRAINING STANDARDS: REGULATED CHILD   CARE FACILITY.          SECTION 5.  Subchapter C, Chapter 42, Human Resources Code,   is amended by adding Section 42.04211 to read as follows:          Sec. 42.04211.  MINIMUM TRAINING STANDARDS: CHILD-PLACING   AGENCY. The minimum training standards prescribed by the executive   commissioner under Section 42.042(h-1) must require an employee,   director, or operator of a child-placing agency to receive training   regarding parental rights of adoptive parents and procedures for   the relinquishment of parental rights.          SECTION 6.  (a) As soon as practicable after the effective   date of this Act but not later than March 1, 2026, the Health and   Human Services Commission, in conjunction with the Department of   Family and Protective Services, shall adopt the forms required by   Sections 161.103(b-1) and 162.0063(b), Family Code, as added by   this Act.          (b)  Section 161.103, Family Code, as amended by this Act,   applies only to the relinquishment of parental rights to a child   born on or after March 1, 2026.          (c)  Section 162.0063(c), Family Code, as added by this Act,   applies beginning with adoption placement services provided on or   after March 1, 2026.          SECTION 7.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act but not later than January 1, 2026, the executive   commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall   adopt rules as required by Section 42.042(h-1), Human Resources   Code, as amended by this Act.          SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.