The bill amends several sections of the Family Code related to the state registry of paternity, specifically adjusting the timeframes for registration and searches. Notably, it changes the deadline for a man to register as a putative father from the 31st day to the 14th day after the birth of the child. Additionally, if a man registers after the 14th day, the vital statistics unit is required to notify him that his registration was untimely. The bill also allows a petitioner for adoption or termination of parental rights to request a search of the registry starting on the 15th day after the child's birth, eliminating any imposed waiting period by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that the vital statistics unit must provide a certificate of search results within 10 days of receiving a request. The amendments apply only to children born on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025, while maintaining the previous laws for children born before this date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 160.402, Family Code 160.415, Family Code 160.421, Family Code 160.422 (Family Code 160)