Tex. Fam. Code § 162.401-162.406

TEXAS FAMILY CODE Chapter 162, Subchapter E — VOLUNTARY ADOPTION REGISTRIES CHAPTER 162 • ADOPTION Subchapter E: VOLUNTARY ADOPTION REGISTRIES Sec. 162.401. PURPOSE. The purpose of this subchapter is to provide for the establishment of mutual consent voluntary adoption registries through which adoptees, birth parents, and biological siblings may voluntarily locate each other. It is not the purpose of this subchapter to inhibit or prohibit persons from locating each other through other legal means or to inhibit or affect in any way the provision of postadoptive services and education, by adoption agencies or others, that go further than the procedures set out for registries established under this subchapter. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Sec. 162.402. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Administrator" means the administrator of a mutual consent voluntary adoption registry established under this subchapter. (2) "Adoptee" means a person 18 years of age or older who has been legally adopted in this state or another state or country. (3) "Adoption" means the act of creating the legal relationship of parent and child between a person and a child who is not the biological child of that person. The term does not include the act of establishing the legal relationship of parent and child between a man and a child through proof of paternity or voluntary legitimation proceedings. (4) "Adoption agency" means a person, other than a natural parent or guardian of a child, who plans for the placement of or places a child in the home of a prospective adoptive parent. (5) "Adoptive parent" means an adult who is a parent of an adoptee through a legal process of adoption. (6) "Alleged father" means a man who is not deemed by law to be or who has not been adjudicated to be the biological father of an ado ent of an adoptee through a legal process of adoption. (6) "Alleged father" means a man who is not deemed by law to be or who has not been adjudicated to be the biological father of an adoptee and who claims or is alleged to be the adoptee's biological father. (7) "Authorized agency" means a public agency authorized to care for or to place children for adoption or a private entity approved for that purpose by the department through a license, certification, or other means. The term includes a licensed child-placing agency or a previously licensed child-placing agency that has ceased operations and has transferred its adoption records to the vital statistics unit or an agency authorized by the department to place children for adoption and a licensed child-placing agency that has been acquired by, merged with, or otherwise succeeded by an agency authorized by the department to place children for adoption. (8) "Biological parent" means a man or woman who is the father or mother of genetic origin of a child. (9) "Biological siblings" means persons who share a common birth parent. (10) "Birth parent" means: (A) the biological mother of an adoptee; (B) the man adjudicated or presumed under Chapter 151 to be the biological father of an adoptee; and (C) a man who has signed a consent to adoption, affidavit of relinquishment, affidavit of waiver of interest in child, or other written instrument releasing the adoptee for adoption, unless the consent, affidavit, or other instrument includes a sworn refusal to admit or a denial of paternity. The term includes a birth mother and birth father but does not include a person adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction as not being the biological parent of an adoptee. (11) "Central registry" means the mutual consent voluntary adoption registry established and maintained by the vital statistics unit under this subchapter. logical parent of an adoptee. (11) "Central registry" means the mutual consent voluntary adoption registry established and maintained by the vital statistics unit under this subchapter. (12) "Department" means the Department of Family and Protective Services. Source: Texas Legislature Online (89th Leg., 2nd Called Sess., 2025) Page 1 --- TEXAS FAMILY CODE Chapter 162, Subchapter E — VOLUNTARY ADOPTION REGISTRIES (13) "Registry" means a mutual consent voluntary adoption registry established under this subchapter. (14) "Vital statistics unit" means the vital statistics unit of the Department of State Health Services. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 968, Sec. 1, 11, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 561, Sec. 19, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.110, eff. April 2, 2015. Sec. 162.403. ESTABLISHMENT OF VOLUNTARY ADOPTION REGISTRIES. (a) The vital statistics unit shall establish and maintain a mutual consent voluntary adoption registry. (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), an agency authorized by the department to place children for adoption and an association comprised exclusively of those agencies may establish a mutual consent voluntary adoption registry. An agency may contract with any other agency authorized by the department to place children for adoption or with an association comprised exclusively of those agencies to perform registry services on its behalf. (c) An authorized agency that did not directly or by contract provide registry services as required by this subchapter on January 1, 1984, may not provide its own registry service. The vital statistics unit shall operate through the central registry those services for agencies not permitted to provide a registry under this section. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by erate through the central registry those services for agencies not permitted to provide a registry under this section. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 561, Sec. 20, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.111, eff. April 2, 2015. Sec. 162.404. REQUIREMENT TO SEND INFORMATION TO CENTRAL REGISTRY. An authorized agency that is permitted to provide a registry under this subchapter or that participates in a mutual consent voluntary adoption registry with an association of authorized agencies shall send to the central registry a duplicate of all information the registry maintains in the agency's registry or sends to the registry in which the agency participates. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 561, Sec. 21, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Sec. 162.405. DETERMINATION OF APPROPRIATE REGISTRY. (a) The administrator of the central registry shall determine the appropriate registry to which an applicant is entitled to apply. (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. (c) Each administrator shall, not later than the 30th day after the date of receiving an inquiry from the administrator of the central registry, respond in writing to the inquiry that the registrant was not placed for adoption by an agency served by that registry or that the registrant was placed for adoption by an agency served by that registry. If the registrant was placed for adoption by an agency served by the registry, the administrator shall file a report with the administrator o placed for adoption by an agency served by that registry. If the registrant was placed for adoption by an agency served by the registry, the administrator shall file a report with the administrator of the central registry including: (1) the name of the adopted child as shown in the final adoption decree; (2) the birth date of the adopted child; (3) the docket number of the adoption suit; (4) the identity of the court that granted the adoption; (5) the date of the final adoption decree; (6) the identity of the agency, if any, through which the adopted child was placed; and (7) the identity, address, and telephone number of the registry through which the adopted child may register as an adoptee. Source: Texas Legislature Online (89th Leg., 2nd Called Sess., 2025) Page 2 --- TEXAS FAMILY CODE Chapter 162, Subchapter E — VOLUNTARY ADOPTION REGISTRIES (d) After completing the investigation, the administrator of the central registry shall issue an official certificate stating: (1) the identity of the registry through which the adoptee, birth parent, or biological sibling may apply for registration, if known; or (2) if the administrator cannot make a conclusive determination, that the adoptee, birth parent, or biological sibling is entitled to apply for registration through the central registry. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 751, Sec. 79, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 968, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Sec. 162.406. REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY. (a) An adoptee who is 18 years of age or older may apply to a registry for information about the adoptee's birth parents and biological siblings. (b) A birth parent who is 18 years of age or older may apply to a registry for information about an adoptee who is a child by birth of the birth parent. (c) An alleged father who is 18 years of age or older and who acknowledges paternity but is not, at the time of a gistry for information about an adoptee who is a child by birth of the birth parent. (c) An alleged father who is 18 years of age or older and who acknowledges paternity but is not, at the time of application, a birth father may register as a birth father but may not otherwise be recognized as a birth father for the purposes of this subchapter unless: (1) the adoptee's birth mother in her application identifies him as the adoptee's biological father; and (2) additional information concerning the adoptee obtained from other sources is not inconsistent with his claim of paternity. (d) A biological sibling who is 18 years of age or older may apply to a registry for information about the person's adopted biological siblings. (e) Only birth parents, adoptees, and biological siblings may apply for information through a registry. (f) A person, including an authorized agency, may not apply for information through a registry as an agent, attorney, or representative of an adoptee, birth parent, or biological sibling. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 968, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Sec. 162.407. REGISTRATION. (a) The administrator shall require each registration applicant to sign a written application. (b) An adoptee adopted or placed through an authorized agency may register through the registry maintained by that agency or the registry to which the agency has delegated registry services or through the central registry maintained by the vital statistics unit. (c) Birth parents and biological siblings shall register through: (1) the registry of the authorized agency through which the adoptee was adopted or placed; or (2) the central registry. (d) The administrator may not accept an application for registration unless the applicant: (1) provides proof of identity as provided by Section 162.408; (2) establishes the applicant's eligibility to register; and (3) pays all required reg lication for registration unless the applicant: (1) provides proof of identity as provided by Section 162.408; (2) establishes the applicant's eligibility to register; and (3) pays all required registration fees. (e) A registration remains in effect until the 99th anniversary of the date the registration is accepted unless a shorter period is specified by the applicant or the registration is withdrawn before that time. (f) A registrant may withdraw the registrant's registration in writing without charge at any time. (g) After a registration is withdrawn or expires, the registrant shall be treated as if the person has not previously registered. (h) A completed registry application must be accepted or rejected before the 46th day after the date the application is received. If an application is rejected, the administrator shall provide the applicant with a written statement of the reason for the rejection. Source: Texas Legislature Online (89th Leg., 2nd Called Sess., 2025) Page 3 --- TEXAS FAMILY CODE Chapter 162, Subchapter E — VOLUNTARY ADOPTION REGISTRIES Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 968, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 561, Sec. 22, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.112, eff. April 2, 2015. Sec. 162.408. PROOF OF IDENTITY. The rules and minimum standards of the Department of State Health Services for the vital statistics unit must provide for proof of identity in order to facilitate the purposes of this subchapter and to protect the privacy rights of adoptees, adoptive parents, birth parents, biological siblings, and their families. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 561, Sec. 23, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.113, eff. April 2, 2015. Sec. 162.409. APP April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 561, Sec. 23, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.113, eff. April 2, 2015. Sec. 162.409. APPLICATION. (a) An application must contain: (1) the name, address, and telephone number 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. (b) The application may contain the applicant's social security number if the applicant, after being advised of the rig he applicant has a biological sibling who has registered under this subchapter. (b) The application may contain the applicant's social security number if the applicant, after being advised of the right not to supply the number, voluntarily furnishes it. (c) The application of a birth parent must include: (1) the original name and date of birth or approximate date of birth of each adoptee with respect to whom the parent is registering; (2) the names of all other birth children, including maiden names, aliases, dates and places of birth, and names of the birth parents; (3) each name known or thought by the applicant to have been used by the adoptee's other birth parent; (4) the last known address of the adoptee's other birth parent; and (5) other available information through which the other birth parent may be identified. Source: Texas Legislature Online (89th Leg., 2nd Called Sess., 2025) Page 4 --- TEXAS FAMILY CODE Chapter 162, Subchapter E — VOLUNTARY ADOPTION REGISTRIES (d) The application of a biological sibling must include: (1) a statement explaining the applicant's basis for believing that the applicant has one or more biological siblings; (2) the names, including maiden and married names, and aliases of all the applicant's siblings by birth and adoption and their dates and places of birth, if known; (3) the names of the applicant's legal parents; (4) the names of the applicant's birth parents, if known; and (5) any other information known to the applicant through which the existence and identity of the applicant's biological siblings can be confirmed. (e) An application may also contain additional information through which the applicant's identity and eligibility to register may be ascertained. (f) The administrator shall assist the applicant in filling out the application if the applicant is unable to complete the application without assistance, but the administrator may not furnish the applicant with any substantive ssist the applicant in filling out the application if the applicant is unable to complete the application without assistance, but the administrator may not furnish the applicant with any substantive information necessary to complete the application. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 968, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Sec. 162.411. FEES. (a) The costs of establishing, operating, and maintaining a registry may be recovered in whole or in part through users' fees charged to applicants and registrants. (b) Each registry shall establish a schedule of fees for services provided by the registry. The fees shall be reasonably related to the direct and indirect costs of establishing, operating, and maintaining the registry. (c) A fee may not be charged for withdrawing a registration. (d) The fees collected by the vital statistics unit shall be deposited in a special fund in the general revenue fund. Funds in the special fund may be appropriated only for the administration of the central registry. (e) The administrator may waive users' fees in whole or in part if the applicant provides satisfactory proof of financial inability to pay the fees. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 968, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 561, Sec. 24, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.114, eff. April 2, 2015. Sec. 162.412. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION. (a) A registrant may amend the registrant's registration and submit additional information to the administrator. A registrant shall notify the administrator of any change in the registrant's name or address that occurs after acceptance of the application. (b) The administrator does not have a duty to search for a registrant who fails to register a change of name or address. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, ef eptance of the application. (b) The administrator does not have a duty to search for a registrant who fails to register a change of name or address. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Sec. 162.413. COUNSELING. The applicant must participate in counseling for not less than one hour with a social worker or mental health professional with expertise in postadoption counseling after the administrator has accepted the application for registration and before the release of confidential information. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 968, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Sec. 162.414. MATCHING PROCEDURES. (a) The administrator shall process each registration in an attempt to match the adoptee and the adoptee's birth parents or the adoptee and the adoptee's biological siblings. Source: Texas Legislature Online (89th Leg., 2nd Called Sess., 2025) Page 5 --- TEXAS FAMILY CODE Chapter 162, Subchapter E — VOLUNTARY ADOPTION REGISTRIES (b) The administrator shall determine that there is a match if the adult adoptee and the birth mother or the birth father have registered or if a biological sibling has registered. (c) To establish or corroborate a match, the administrator shall request confirmation of a possible match from the vital statistics unit. If the agency operating the registry has in its own records sufficient information through which the match may be confirmed, the administrator may, but is not required to, request confirmation from the vital statistics unit. The vital statistics unit may confirm or deny the match without breaching the duty of confidentiality to the adoptee, adoptive parents, birth parents, or biological siblings and without a court order. (d) To establish a match, the administrator may also request confirmation of a possible match from the agency, if any, that has possession of records concerning the adoption of an ut a court order. (d) To establish a match, the administrator may also request confirmation of a possible match from the agency, if any, that has possession of records concerning the adoption of an adoptee or from the court that granted the adoption, the hospital where the adoptee or any biological sibling was born, the physician who delivered the adoptee or biological sibling, or any other person who has knowledge of the relevant facts. The agency, court, hospital, physician, or person with knowledge may confirm or deny the match without breaching any duty of confidentiality to the adoptee, adoptive parents, birth parents, or biological siblings. (e) If a match is denied by a source contacted under Subsection (d), the administrator shall make a full and complete investigation into the reliability of the denial. If the match is corroborated by other reliable sources and the administrator is satisfied that the denial is erroneous, the administrator may make disclosures but shall report to the adoptee, birth parents, and biological siblings involved that the match was not confirmed by all information sources. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 968, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 561, Sec. 25, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.115, eff. April 2, 2015. Sec. 162.416. DISCLOSURE OF IDENTIFYING INFORMATION. (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 regi egistrant 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. (b) Identifying information about a registrant shall be released without the registrant's having consented after the match to disclosure if the registrant is dead, the registrant's registration was valid at the time of death, and the registrant had in writing specifically authorized the postdeath disclosure in the registrant's application or in a supplemental statement filed with the administrator. (c) Identifying information about a deceased birth parent may not be released until each surviving child of the deceased birth parent is an adult or until each child's surviving parent, guardian, managing conservator, or legal custodian consents in writing to the disclosure. (d) The administrator shall prepare and release written disclosure statements identifying information about each of the registrants if the registrants complied with Subsection (a) and, before the 60th day after the date notification of match was mailed, the registrant or registrants have not withdrawn their registrations. Source: Texas Legislature Online (89th Leg., 2nd Called Sess., 2025) Page 6 --- TEXAS FAMILY CODE Chapter 162, Subchapter E — VOLUNTARY ADOPTION REGISTRIES (e) If eir registrations. Source: Texas Legislature Online (89th Leg., 2nd Called Sess., 2025) Page 6 --- TEXAS FAMILY CODE Chapter 162, Subchapter E — VOLUNTARY ADOPTION REGISTRIES (e) If the administrator establishes that a match cannot be made because of the death of an adoptee, birth parent, or biological sibling, the administrator shall promptly notify the affected registrant. The administrator shall disclose the reason why a match cannot be made and may disclose nonidentifying information concerning the circumstances of the person's death. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 968, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Sec. 162.419. REGISTRY RECORDS CONFIDENTIAL. (a) All applications, registrations, records, and other information submitted to, obtained by, or otherwise acquired by a registry are confidential and may not be disclosed to any person or entity except in the manner authorized by this subchapter. (b) Information acquired by a registry may not be disclosed under freedom of information or sunshine legislation, rules, or practice. (c) A person may not file or prosecute a class action litigation to force a registry to disclose identifying information. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Sec. 162.420. RULEMAKING. (a) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall make rules and adopt minimum standards for the Department of State Health Services to: (1) administer the provisions of this subchapter; and (2) ensure that each registry respects the right to privacy and confidentiality of an adoptee, birth parent, and biological sibling who does not desire to disclose the person's identity. (b) The Department of State Health Services shall conduct a comprehensive review of all rules and standards adopted under this subchapter not less than every six years. (c) In order to provide the administrators an opport tate Health Services shall conduct a comprehensive review of all rules and standards adopted under this subchapter not less than every six years. (c) In order to provide the administrators an opportunity to review proposed rules and standards and send written suggestions to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission, the executive commissioner shall, before adopting rules and minimum standards, send a copy of the proposed rules and standards not less than 60 days before the date they take effect to: (1) the administrator of each registry established under this subchapter; and (2) the administrator of each agency authorized by the department to place children for adoption. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 561, Sec. 26, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.116, eff. April 2, 2015. Sec. 162.421. PROHIBITED ACTS; CRIMINAL PENALTIES. (a) This subchapter does not prevent the Department of State Health Services from making known to the public, by appropriate means, the existence of voluntary adoption registries. (b) Information received by or in connection with the operation of a registry may not be stored in a data bank used for any purpose other than operation of the registry. (c) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly or recklessly discloses information from a registry application, registration, record, or other information submitted to, obtained by, or otherwise acquired by a registry in violation of this subchapter. This subsection may not be construed to penalize the disclosure of information from adoption agency records. An offense under this subsection is a felony of the second degree. (d) A person commits an offense if the person with criminal negligence causes or permits the disclosure of information from a registry application, registration, record, or other information submitted ) A person commits an offense if the person with criminal negligence causes or permits the disclosure of information from a registry application, registration, record, or other information submitted to, obtained by, or otherwise acquired by a registry in violation of this subchapter. This subsection may not be construed to penalize the disclosure of information from adoption Source: Texas Legislature Online (89th Leg., 2nd Called Sess., 2025) Page 7 --- TEXAS FAMILY CODE Chapter 162, Subchapter E — VOLUNTARY ADOPTION REGISTRIES agency records. An offense under this subsection is a Class A misdemeanor. (e) A person commits an offense if the person impersonates an adoptee, birth parent, or biological sibling with the intent to secure confidential information from a registry established under this subchapter. An offense under this subsection is a felony of the second degree. (f) A person commits an offense if the person impersonates an administrator, agent, or employee of a registry with the intent to secure confidential information from a registry established under this subchapter. An offense under this subsection is a felony of the second degree. (g) A person commits an offense if the person, with intent to deceive and with knowledge of the statement's meaning, makes a false statement under oath in connection with the operation of a registry. An offense under this subsection is a felony of the third degree. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 968, Sec. 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 561, Sec. 27, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.117, eff. April 2, 2015. Sec. 162.422. IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY. (a) The Department of State Health Services or authorized agency establishing or operating a registry is not liable to any person for obtaining or disclosing identifying information about a birth parent, e Department of State Health Services or authorized agency establishing or operating a registry is not liable to any person for obtaining or disclosing identifying information about a birth parent, adoptee, or biological sibling within the scope of this subchapter and under its provisions. (b) An employee or agent of the Department of State Health Services or of an authorized agency establishing or operating a registry under this subchapter is not liable to any person for obtaining or disclosing identifying information about a birth parent, adoptee, or biological sibling within the scope of this subchapter and under its provisions. (c) A person or entity furnishing information to the administrator or an employee or agent of a registry is not liable to any person for disclosing information about a birth parent, adoptee, or biological sibling within the scope of this subchapter and under its provisions. (d) A person or entity is not immune from liability for performing an act prohibited by Section 162.421. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 561, Sec. 28, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.118, eff. April 2, 2015. Source: Texas Legislature Online (89th Leg., 2nd Called Sess., 2025) Page 8