Bill Text: CA AB1049 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Parent and child relationship.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-07-14 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 91, Statutes of 2015. [AB1049 Detail]
Download: California-2015-AB1049-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Parent and child relationship.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-07-14 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 91, Statutes of 2015. [AB1049 Detail]
Download: California-2015-AB1049-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 1049 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Patterson FEBRUARY 26, 2015 An act to amend Sections 7612, 7613, 7960, and 7961 of, and to amend the heading of Part 7 (commencing with Section 7960) of Division 12 of, the Family Code, and to amend Section 305.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to children. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1049, as introduced, Patterson. Parent and child relationship. (1) Under existing law, a man is conclusively presumed to be the father of a child if he was married to and cohabiting with the child' s mother, except as specified. Existing law also provides that if a man signs a voluntary declaration of paternity, it has the force and effect of a judgment of paternity, subject to certain exceptions. Existing law provides that these presumptions are rebuttable. This bill would state that a person's offer or refusal to sign a voluntary declaration of paternity may be used as a factor, but shall not be determinative as to the issue of legal parentage in any proceedings regarding the establishment or termination of parental rights. (2) Existing law provides that the spouse of a woman who conceives through assisted reproduction with semen donated by a man not her husband, as specified, is treated in law as if he or she were the natural parent of a child thereby conceived. Existing law further provides that the donor of semen provided to a licensed physician or to a licensed sperm bank for use in artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization of a woman other than the donor's wife is treated in law as if he were not the natural father of a child thereby conceived. This bill would additionally provide that the spouse of a women who conceives through assisted reproduction with oocytes donated for reproductive purposes is treated in law as if he or she were the natural parent of the child, and the woman who conceives the child is treated in law as the natural parent unless the woman is a surrogate mother, as defined. The bill would further provide that the donor of oocytes provided to a licensed physician or to a licensed egg bank for use in assisted reproduction of a woman other than the donor, her spouse, or domestic partner is treated in law as if she were not the natural parent of a child thereby conceived, unless otherwise specified. (3) Existing law requires a nonattorney surrogacy facilitator to direct his or her client to deposit client funds in an independent, bonded escrow account or a trust account maintained by an attorney, subject to specified withdrawal requirements. This bill would additionally require a nonattorney donor facilitator to direct his or her client to deposit client funds, as specified above. (4) Existing law prohibits a peace officer from taking into temporary custody, without a warrant, a newborn who is in a hospital if specified conditions exist, including that the newborn or his or her birth mother tested positive for illegal drugs, the newborn is the subject of a proposed adoption, and a Health Facility Minor Release Report has been completed by the hospital, as specified. This bill would instead prohibit a peace officer or child welfare agency worker from taking into temporary custody, without a warrant, a newborn who is in a hospital, if among other conditions, the newborn appears to come within the description of a dependent child of the juvenile court. The bill would require a hospital, whenever it makes a report or referral to a child welfare agency or law enforcement agency regarding a newborn, to immediately advise the birth parent or parents in writing of the parent's right to contact an attorney or a licensed private adoption agency for assistance with placing the newborn for adoption, and to complete a Health Facility Minor Release Report upon request by a parent. The bill would require a child welfare agency worker who investigates the hospital report or referral to, prior to filing a dependency petition for a newborn who has not yet been discharged from the hospital, confirm that the hospital has advised the birth parent or parents in writing of the right to place the newborn for adoption and allow the parent a reasonable opportunity to place the newborn for adoption before the newborn is discharged from the hospital. By creating additional duties for local officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (5) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 7612 of the Family Code is amended to read: 7612. (a) Except as provided in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 7540) and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 7570) of Part 2 or in Section 20102, a presumption under Section 7611 is a rebuttable presumption affecting the burden of proof and may be rebutted in an appropriate action only by clear and convincing evidence. (b) If two or more presumptions arise under Section 7610 or 7611 that conflict with each other, or if a presumption under Section 7611 conflicts with a claim pursuant to Section 7610, the presumption which on the facts is founded on the weightier considerations of policy and logic controls. (c) In an appropriate action, a court may find that more than two persons with a claim to parentage under this division are parents if the court finds that recognizing only two parents would be detrimental to the child. In determining detriment to the child, the court shall consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the harm of removing the child from a stable placement with a parent who has fulfilled the child's physical needs and the child's psychological needs for care and affection, and who has assumed that role for a substantial period of time. A finding of detriment to the child does not require a finding of unfitness of any of the parents or persons with a claim to parentage. (d) Unless a court orders otherwise after making the determination specified in subdivision (c), a presumption under Section 7611 is rebutted by a judgment establishing parentage of the child by another person. (e) Within two years of the execution of a voluntary declaration of paternity, a person who is presumed to be a parent under Section 7611 may file a petition pursuant to Section 7630 to set aside a voluntary declaration of paternity. The court's ruling on the petition to set aside the voluntary declaration of paternity shall be made taking into account the validity of the voluntary declaration of paternity, and the best interests of the child based upon the court's consideration of the factors set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 7575, as well as the best interests of the child based upon the nature, duration, and quality of the petitioning party's relationship with the child and the benefit or detriment to the child of continuing that relationship. In the event of any conflict between the presumption under Section 7611 and the voluntary declaration of paternity, the weightier considerations of policy and logic shall control. (f) A voluntary declaration of paternity is invalid if, at the time the declaration was signed, any of the following conditions exist: (1) The child already had a presumed parent under Section 7540. (2) The child already had a presumed parent under subdivision (a), (b), or (c) of Section 7611. (3) The man signing the declaration is a sperm donor, consistent with subdivision (b) of Section 7613. (g) A person's offer or refusal to sign a voluntary declaration of paternity may be used as a factor, but shall not be determinative, as to the issue of legal parentage in any proceedings regarding the establishment or termination of parental rights. SEC. 2. Section 7613 of the Family Code is amended to read: 7613. (a) If, under the supervision of a licensed physician and surgeon and with the consent of her spouse, if married, a woman conceives through assisted reproduction with semen donated by a man not her husband or with oocytes donated for reproductive purposes , the spouse is treated in law as if he or she were the natural parent of a child therebyconceived.conceived and the woman who conceives the child is treated in law as the natural parent unless the woman is a surrogate mother as defined under subdivision (f) of Section 7960. The spouse's consent shall be in writing and signed by both spouses. The physician and surgeon shall certify their signatures and the date of the assisted reproduction procedure, and retain the spouse's consent as part of the medical record, where it shall be kept confidential and in a sealed file. However, the physician and surgeon's failure to do so does not affect the parent and child relationship. All papers and records pertaining to the assisted reproduction procedure, whether part of the permanent record of a court or of a file held by the supervising physician and surgeon or elsewhere, are subject to inspection only upon an order of the court for good cause shown. (b) The donor of semen provided to a licensed physician and surgeon or to a licensed sperm bank for use in assisted reproduction of a woman other than the donor's spouse is treated in law as if he were not the natural parent of a child thereby conceived, unless otherwise agreed to in a writing signed by the donor and the woman prior to the conception of the child. (c) The donor of oocytes provided to a licensed physician and surgeon or to a licensed egg bank for use in assisted reproduction of a woman other than the donor, her spouse, or domestic partner is treated in law as if she were not the natural parent of a child thereby conceived, unless otherwise agreed to in a writing signed by the donor and the recipient of the oocytes prior to the conception of the child. SEC. 3. The heading of Part 7 (commencing with Section 7960) of Division 12 of the Family Code is amended to read: PART 7. SURROGACYFACILITATORS ANDAND DONOR FACILITATORS, ASSISTED REPRODUCTION AGREEMENTS FOR GESTATIONAL CARRIERS , AND OOCYTE DONATIONS SEC. 4. Section 7960 of the Family Code is amended to read: 7960. For purposes of this part, the following terms have the following meanings: (a) "Assisted reproduction agreement" has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 7606. (b) "Fund management agreement" means the agreement between the intended parents and the surrogacy or donor facilitator relating to the fee or other valuable consideration for services rendered or that will be rendered by the surrogacy or donor facilitator. (c) "Intended parent" means an individual, married or unmarried, who manifests the intent to be legally bound as the parent of a child resulting from assisted reproduction. (d) "Nonattorney surrogacy or donor facilitator" means a surrogacy or donor practitioner who is not an attorney in good standing licensed to practice law in this state. (e) "Surrogacy or donor facilitator" means a person or organization that engages in either of the following activities: (1) Advertising for the purpose of soliciting parties to an assisted reproduction agreement or for the donation of oocytes for use by a person other than the provider of the oocytes, or acting as an intermediary between the parties to an assisted reproductionagreement.agreement or oocyte donation. (2) Charging a fee or other valuable consideration for services rendered relating to an assisted reproductionagreement.agreement or oocyte donation. (f) "Surrogate" means a woman who bears and carries a child for another through medically assisted reproduction and pursuant to a written agreement, as set forth in Sections 7606 and 7962. Within the definition of surrogate are two different and distinct types: (1) "Traditional surrogate" means a woman who agrees to gestate an embryo, in which the woman is the gamete donor and the embryo was created using the sperm of the intended father or a donor arranged by the intended parent or parents. (2) "Gestational carrier" means a woman who is not an intended parent and who agrees to gestate an embryo that is genetically unrelated to her pursuant to an assisted reproduction agreement. (g) "Donor" means a woman who provides her oocytes for use by another for the purpose of assisting the recipient of the oocytes in having a child or children of her own. SEC. 5. Section 7961 of the Family Code is amended to read: 7961. (a) A nonattorney surrogacy or donor facilitator shall direct the client to deposit all client funds into either of the following: (1) An independent, bonded escrow depository maintained by a licensed, independent, bonded escrow company. (2) A trust account maintained by an attorney. (b) For purposes of this section, a nonattorney surrogacy or donor facilitator may not have a financial interest in any escrow company holding client funds. A nonattorney surrogacy or donor facilitator and any of its directors or employees shall not be an agent of any escrow company holding client funds. (c) Client funds may only be disbursed by the attorney or escrow agent as set forth in the assisted reproduction agreement and fund management agreement. (d) This section shall not apply to funds that are both of the following: (1) Not provided for in the fund management agreement. (2) Paid directly to a medical doctor for medical services or a psychologist for psychological services. SEC. 6. Section 305.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 305.6. (a) Any peace officer or child welfare agency worker may, without a warrant, take into temporary custody a minor who is in a hospital if the release of the minor to a prospective adoptive parent or a representative of a licensed adoption agency poses an immediate danger to the minor's health or safety. (b) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) and Section 305, a peace officer or child welfare agency worker may not, without a warrant, take into temporary custody a minor who is in a hospital if all of the following conditionsexist:exist at any time prior to the minor's discharge from the hospital: (A) The minor is a newborn whotested positive for illegal drugs or whose birth mother tested positive for illegal drugs.is described in Section 300. (B) The minor is the subject of a proposed adoption and a Health Facility Minor Release Report, prescribed by the department, has been completed by the hospital, including the marking of the boxes applicable to an independent adoption or agency adoption planning, and signed by the placing birth parent or birth parents, as well as either the prospective adoptive parent or parents or an authorized representative of a licensed adoption agency, prior to the discharge of the birth parent or the minor from the hospital. Prior to signing the Health Facility Minor Release Report, the birth parent or parents shall be given a notice written in at least 14-point pica type, containing substantially the following statements: (i) That the Health Facility Minor Release Report does not constitute consent to adoption of the minor by the prospective adoptive parent or parents, or any other person. (ii) That the Health Facility Minor Release Report does not constitute a relinquishment of parental rights for the purposes of adoption. (iii) That the birth parent or parents or any person authorized by the birth parent or parents may reclaim the minor at any time from the prospective adoptive parent or parents or any other person to whom the minor was released by the hospital, as provided in Sections 8814.5, 8815, or 8700 of the Family Code. This notice shall be signed by the birth parent or parents and attached to the Health Facility Minor Release Report, a copy of which shall be provided to the birth parent or parents by hospital personnel at the time the form is completed. (C) The release of the minor to a prospective adoptive parent or parents or an authorized representative of a licensed adoption agency does not pose an immediate danger to the minor. (D) An attorney or an adoption agency has provided documentation stating that he or she, or the agency, is representing the prospective adoptive parent or parents for purposes of the adoption. In the case of an independent adoption, as defined in Section 8524 of the Family Code, the attorney or adoption agency shall provide documentation stating that the prospective adoptive parent or parents have been informed that the child may be eligible for benefits provided pursuant to the Adoption Assistance Program, as set forth in Chapter 2.1 (commencing with Section 16115) of Part 4 of Division 9, only if, at the time the adoption request is filed, the child has met the requirements to receive federal supplemental security income benefits pursuant to Subchapter XVI (commencing with Section 1381) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code, as determined and documented by the federal Social Security Administration. (E) The prospective adoptive parent or parents or their representative, or an authorized representative of a licensed adoption agency, provides all of the following to the peace officerwho is at the hospitalor child welfare agency worker who seeks to take the minor into temporary custody: (i) A fully executed copy of the Health Facility Minor Release Report. (ii) A writtenform, developed by the department,form signed by either the prospective adoptive parent or parents or a representative of the licensed adoption agency, which shall include all of the following: (I) A statement that the minor is the subject of a proposed adoption. (II) A declaration that the signer or signers will immediately notify the county child welfare agency pursuant to Section 11165.9 of the Penal Code if the adoption plan is terminated for any reason, and will not release the minor to the birth parent or parents or any designee of the birth parent or parents until the county child welfare agency or local law enforcement agency completes an investigation and determines that release of the minor to the birth parent or parents or a designee of the birth parent or parents will not create an immediate risk to the health or safety of the minor. (III) An agreement to provide a conformed copy of the adoption request or guardianship petition to the county child welfare agency within five business days after filing. (IV) The names, identifying information, and contact information for the minor, for each prospective adoptive parent, and for each birth parent, to the extent that information is known. In the case of an agency adoption where no prospective adoptive parent or parents are identified at the time of the minor's release from the hospital, the licensed adoption agency may provide the information as it pertains to the licensed or certified foster home into which the agency intends to place the minor. (c) (1) In every independent adoption proceeding under this section, the prospective adoptive parent or parents shall file with the court either an adoption request within 10 working days after execution of an adoption placement agreement, or a guardianship petition within 30 calendar days after the child's discharge from the hospital, whichever is earlier. (2) If the adoption plan for a minor who was released from the hospital pursuant to subdivision (b) is terminated for any reason, the prospective adoptive parent or parents or licensed adoption agency shall immediately notify the county child welfare agency. The prospective adoptive parent or parents or licensed adoption agency may not release the minor into the physical custody of the birth parent or parents, or any designee of the birth parent or parents, until the county child welfare agency or local law enforcement agency completes an investigation and determines that release of the minor to the birth parent or parents or a designee of the birth parent or parents will not create an immediate risk to the health or safety of the minor. (d) If a hospital makes a report or referral to a child welfare agency or law enforcement agency regarding a minor newborn, the hospital shall do both of the following: (1) Immediately advise the birth parent or parents in writing of the parent's right to contact an attorney or a licensed private adoption agency for assistance with placing the minor newborn for adoption in accordance with this section. (2) Upon request by a birth parent, complete a Health Facility Minor Release Report and provide copies of the report to all parties listed in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), even if the minor newborn is ineligible for release at that time for any reason. (e) Prior to filing a petition pursuant to Section 300 regarding a minor newborn who has not yet been discharged from the hospital, a child welfare agency worker who investigates a hospital report or referral regarding the minor newborn shall do all of the following: (1) Confirm that the hospital has advised the parent in writing of the right to place the minor newborn for adoption. (2) Allow a parent who wishes to place a minor newborn for adoption a reasonable opportunity to do so at any time before the minor newborn is discharged from the hospital. (3) Implement interim measures, as necessary, to ensure the safety and well-being of the minor newborn pending adoptive placement, such as instructions to the hospital not to discharge the minor newborn to any agency or person without approval from the child welfare agency, which approval shall be given upon satisfaction of the requirements of this section.(d)(f) Nothing in this section is intended to create a duty that requires law enforcement to investigate the prospective adoptive parent or parents. SEC. 7. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.