All public and private birthing hospitals, all birthing centers, and the state Bureau of Vital Statistics are required to provide voluntary paternity establishment services, but only after being certified by the Office of the Attorney General. The following entities may provide voluntary paternity establishment services at their option, but only after being certified by the Office of the Attorney General:

1. (1) local birth registrars;
2. (2) public health clinics;
3. (3) private health care providers;
4. (4) certified nurse midwives;
5. (5) documented midwives;
6. (6) agencies providing assistance or services under Title IV, Part A of the Social Security Act, agencies providing food stamp eligibility service, and agencies providing child support enforcement (IV-D) services;
7. (7) Head Start, child care facilities, and individual child care providers;
8. (8) community action agencies and community action programs;
9. (9) secondary education schools;
10. (10) legal aid agencies;
11. (11) private attorneys; and
12. (12) any public or private health, welfare or social services organization.

Source Note:The provisions of this §55.406 adopted to be effective April 23, 2000, 25 TexReg 3232.