House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

Posted:	February 11, 2013 02:54 PM
From:	Representative Scott A. Petri
To:	All House members
Subject:	Procedures for Terminating Parental Rights

In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that will amend the Domestic Relations Code by doing the following:

Requires the courts to set a hearing date no more than 20 days after the relinquishment petition has been filed. Under the alternative procedure for relinquishment, the court must set a hearing date no more than 40 days after the petition has been filed.
Provides the procedure for notification of proceedings to putative fathers as well as the procedure to terminate the putative father’s parental rights.
Constricts the time from 30 to five days in which the consent to an adoption by the birth mother, father, or putative father can be revoked.
Includes reasonable and specific living expenses incurred by the natural mother three months prior to the due date and 60 days after the birth of the child as a permissible reimbursement of expenses by the adoptive parents.
Further defines the validity of consent with respect to both the birth mother and putative father and the procedure to challenge the validity of consent.
Allows the birth mother, father, or putative father to execute a waiver of notice requirements.

If you have any questions, or if you would like a copy of the legislation, please contact Lea Farrell at 787-9033 or lfarrell@pahousegop.com.

Introduced as HB729