Texas § HS.191.0046 - FEE EXEMPTIONS

§ HS.191.0046. FEE EXEMPTIONS

FEE EXEMPTIONS. (a) On the request of a child's parent or guardian, the state registrar shall issue without fee a certificate necessary for admission to school or to secure employment. The certificate shall be limited to a statement of the child's date of birth. (b) The state registrar shall issue without fee a certified copy of a record not otherwise prohibited by law to a veteran or to the veteran's widow, orphan, or other dependent if the copy is for use in settling a claim against the government. (c) On court order, the state registrar may issue without fee a certified copy of a birth record in cases related to child labor or the public schools. (d) The state registrar on request shall issue without a fee a copy of a birth or death record that is not certified to a child fatality review team or the child fatality review team committee established under Subchapter F , Chapter 264 , Family Code. (e) It is the intent of the legislature to not impose a cost for obtaining certified records for the purpose of obtaining an election identification certificate issued pursuant to Chapter 521A , Transportation Code. Notwithstanding any other law, the state registrar, a local registrar, or a county clerk shall not charge a fee to an applicant that is associated with searching for or providing a record, including a certified copy of a birth record, if the applicant states that the applicant is requesting the record for the purpose of obtaining an election identification certificate under Section 521A.001 , Transportation Code. (f) Notwithstanding Subsection (e), a local registrar or a county clerk who issues a birth record that is required for the purpose of obtaining an election identification certificate issued pursuant to Chapter 521A , Transportation Code, and is otherwise entitled by law to retain all or a portion of a fee for that birth record, is entitled to payment of the amount from the department. (g) The state registrar, a local registrar, or a county clerk, on request of a county or a child welfare board appointed by the commissioners court of a county under Section 264.005 , Family Code, shall issue without a fee a certified copy of a birth record to the county or board if the request is related to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed by a governmental entity under Subtitle E, Title 5, Family Code. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept.1, 1989. Renumbered from Sec. 191.054 and amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 14, Sec. 52, eff. Sept. 1, 1991. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 11 (S.B. 239 ), Sec. 1, eff. May 3, 2005. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 130 (S.B. 983 ), Sec. 1, eff. May 27, 2015. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1104 (H.B. 4466 ), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.