1999 Legislation
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SENATE BILL NO. 1134, As Amended, As Amended in the House – Adoption, termination, procedures

SENATE BILL NO. 1134, As Amended, As Amended in the House

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Daily Data Tracking History



S1134aa,aaH...........................................by HEALTH AND WELFARE
ADOPTION - Amends existing law relating to adoption of children to revise
conditions under which termination may be granted and to revise procedures.

02/09    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/10    Rpt prt - to Health/Wel
02/16    Rpt out - to 14th Ord
02/24    Rpt out amen - to engros
02/25    Rpt engros - 1st rdg - to 2nd rdg as amen
02/26    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg as amen
03/02    3rd rdg as amen - PASSED - 31-0-4
      AYES--Andreason, Boatright, Branch, Bunderson, Cameron, Crow,
      Danielson, Darrington, Davis, Deide, Dunklin, Frasure, Geddes,
      Hawkins, Ingram, Ipsen, Keough, King, Lee, McLaughlin, Richardson,
      Riggs, Risch, Sandy, Schroeder, Sorensen, Stegner, Stennett, Thorne,
      Wheeler, Whitworth
      NAYS--None
      Absent and excused--Burtenshaw, Noh, Parry, Twiggs
    Floor Sponsor - Ipsen
    Title apvd - to House
03/03    House intro - 1st rdg as amen - to Health/Wel
03/05    Rpt out - to Jud
03/16    Rpt out - to Gen Ord
03/17    Rpt out amen - to 1st rdg as amen
03/18    1st rdg - to 2nd rdg as amen
    Rules susp - PASSED - 60-0-10
      AYES -- Alltus, Barraclough, Barrett, Bell, Bieter, Black, Boe,
      Bruneel, Callister, Campbell, Clark, Crow, Cuddy, Deal, Denney,
      Ellsworth, Field(20), Gagner, Geddes, Hadley, Hammond, Hansen(23),
      Hornbeck, Jaquet, Jones, Judd, Kellogg, Kempton, Kendell, Kunz, Lake,
      Linford, Loertscher, Mader, Marley, McKague, Meyer(Duncan),
      Mortensen, Moyle, Pischner, Pomeroy, Reynolds, Ridinger, Ringo,
      Robison, Sali, Schaefer, Sellman, Smith, Smylie, Stevenson,
      Stoicheff, Stone, Taylor, Tilman, Tippets, Trail, Wheeler, Williams,
      Mr Speaker
      NAYS -- None
      Absent and excused -- Chase, Field(13), Gould, Hansen(29), Henbest,
      Limbaugh, Montgomery, Watson, Wood, Zimmermann
    Floor Sponsor - Hammond
    Title apvd - to Senate
    To 10th Ord
03/19    Senate concurred in House amens - to engros
    Rpt engros - to 1st rdg as amen
    Rules susp - PASSED - 32-0-3
      AYES--Andreason, Boatright, Branch, Bunderson, Burtenshaw, Cameron,
      Crow, Danielson, Darrington, Davis, Deide, Dunklin, Geddes, Hawkins,
      Ingram, Ipsen, Keough, King, Lee, McLaughlin, Noh, Richardson, Riggs,
      Risch, Sandy, Schroeder, Sorensen, Stegner, Stennett, Thorne,
      Wheeler, Whitworth
      NAYS--None
      Absent and excused--Frasure, Parry, Twiggs
    Floor Sponsor - Ipsen
    Title apvd - to enrol
03/22    Rpt enrol - Pres signed - Sp signed
03/23    To Governor
03/24    Governor signed
         Session Law Chapter 314
         Effective: 03/24/99

Bill Text


S1134


                                                                        
 ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
Fifty-fifth Legislature                 First Regular Session - 1999
                                                                        

                                      IN THE SENATE

                SENATE BILL NO. 1134, As Amended, As Amended in the House

                             BY HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE

 1                                        AN ACT
 2    RELATING TO THE PROCEDURES INVOLVED IN THE ADOPTION PROCESS; AMENDING  SECTION
 3        16-2005,  IDAHO  CODE, TO REVISE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH TERMINATION MAY BE
 4        GRANTED, TO REVISE PROCEDURES  AND  TO  MAKE  TECHNICAL  CORRECTIONS;  AND
 5        DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

 6    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:

 7        SECTION  1.  That  Section 16-2005, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 8    amended to read as follows:

 9        16-2005.  CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH TERMINATION MAY BE GRANTED. The court may
10    grant an order terminating the relationship where it finds one or more of  the
11    following conditions exist:
12        a.  The parent has abandoned the child by having willfully failed to main-
13    tain  a  normal  parental relationship including ,  but not limited
14    to ,  reasonable support or regular personal  contact;  failure  of
15    the  parent  to  maintain this relationship without just cause for a period of
16    one (1) year shall constitute prima facie evidence of abandonment  under  this
17    section.  Provided  further, that where termination is sought by a grandparent
18    seeking to adopt the child, willful failure of the parent to maintain a normal
19    parental relationship as provided herein, without  just  cause,  for  six  (6)
20    months shall constitute prima facie evidence of abandonment.
21        b.  The  parent  has neglected or abused the child. Neglect as used herein
22    shall mean a situation in which the child lacks parental  care  necessary  for
23    his health, morals and well-being.
24        c.  The presumptive parent is not the natural parent of the child.
25        d.  The parent is unable to discharge parental responsibilities because of
26    mental  illness  or  mental  deficiency,  and  there are reasonable grounds to
27    believe the condition will continue for a prolonged indeterminate  period  and
28    will be injurious to the health, morals or well-being of the child.
29        e.  If  termination  is found to be in the best interest of the parent and
30    child, where the petition has been filed by a parent or through an  authorized
31    agency, or interested party.
32        f.  Where  a  consent  to termination in the manner and form prescribed by
33    this act has been filed by the parent(s) of the child in  conjunction  with  a
34    petition  for  adoption  initiated by the person or persons proposing to adopt
35    the child, or where the consent to termination has been filed  by  a  licensed
36    adoption  agency, no subsequent hearing on the merits of the petition shall be
37    held. Consents required by this act must be witnessed by a district  judge  or
38    magistrate  of  a district court, or equivalent judicial officer of the state,
39    where a person consenting resides or is present, whether within or without the
40    county, and shall be substantially in the following form:
41    IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE .... JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF THE STATE OF IDAHO,  IN
42    AND FOR THE COUNTY OF ....
43    In the Matter of the termination       )


                                         2

 1    of the parental rights of              )
 2    ...................                    )
 3    ...................                    )
 4        I  (we),  the undersigned, being the .... of ...., do hereby give my (our)
 5    full  and free consent to the complete and absolute termination  of  my  (our)
 6    parental  right(s),  to  the  said  ....,  who was born ...., 19.., unto ....,
 7    hereby relinquishing completely and forever,  all  legal  rights,  privileges,
 8    duties  and  obligations,  including all rights of inheritance to and from the
 9    said ...., and I (we) do hereby expressly waive my (our) right(s)  to  hearing
10    on  the  petition  to  terminate  my (our) parental relationship with the said
11    ...., and respectfully request the petition be granted.
12                                                                DATED: ...., 19...
13                                                               ...................
14    STATE OF IDAHO      )
15                        )   ss.
16    COUNTY OF ....      )
17        On this .... day of ...., 19.., before  me,  the  undersigned  ....,  ....
18    (Judge  or    m    M  agistrate) of the District  c
19     C ourt of the .... Judicial District of the state of  Idaho,
20    in  and  for  the  county  of  ...., personally appeared ...., known to me (or
21    proved to me on the oath of ....) to be the person(s) whose name(s)  is  (are)
22    subscribed  to  the  within  instrument,  and acknowledged to me that he (she,
23    they) executed the same.
24        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and  affixed  my  official
25    seal the day and year in this certificate first above written.
26                             ...................... (District Judge or Magistrate)
27        The  court  shall  accept a consent or a surrender and release executed in
28    another state if:
29        (1)  It is witnessed by a magistrate or district judge of the state  where
30        signed; or
31        (2)  The court receives an affidavit or a certificate from a court of com-
32        parable jurisdiction stating that the consent or the surrender and release
33        was executed in accordance with the laws of the state in which it was exe-
34        cuted, or the court is satisfied by other showing that the consent or sur-
35        render  and  release was executed in accordance with the laws of the state
36        in which it was executed ; or
37        (3)  The court shall accept a termination or relinquishment from a  sister
38        state  that  has  been  ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction under
39        like proceedings; or in any other manner authorized by the laws of a  sis-
40        ter  state. In a state where the father has failed to file notice of claim
41        to paternity and willingness to assume responsibility as provided for pur-
42        suant to the laws of such state, and where  such  failure  constitutes  an
43        abandonment  of such child and constitutes a termination or relinquishment
44        of the rights of the putative father, the court shall accept such  failure
45        as  a  termination in this state without further hearing on the merits, if
46        the court is satisfied that such  failure  constitutes  a  termination  or
47        relinquishment  of  parental  rights  pursuant  to the laws of that state.
48        
49        g.  Where consent to termination of parental rights is implied  by  reason
50    of  the failure of a putative father to establish paternity in the manner pre-
51    scribed in section 16-1513, Idaho Code.
52        h.  Unless a consent to termination signed by the parent(s) of  the  child
53    has been filed by an adoption agency licensed in the state of Idaho, or unless
54    the  consent to termination was filed in conjunction with a petition for adop-
55    tion of the child, the court shall hold a hearing.


                                         3

 1        i.  In the case of a father's parental relationship, where the father  has
 2    failed  to file notice of claim to paternity and willingness to assume respon-
 3    sibility as provided in section 16-1513(3), Idaho Code.
 4        j.  The court may grant termination as to a parent:
 5        (1)  Who caused the child to be conceived as a  result  of  rape,  incest,
 6        lewd  conduct with a minor child under sixteen (16) years, or sexual abuse
 7        of a child under the age of sixteen (16)  years,  as  defined  in  section
 8        16-2002 n., Idaho Code;
 9        (2)  Who  murdered  or intentionally killed the other parent of the child;
10        or
11        (3)  Who has been incarcerated and has no possibility of parole.
12    There is a rebuttable presumption that termination of the  parent-child  rela-
13    tionship in any of the circumstances provided in subsection j. of this section
14    is in the best interest of the child.

15        SECTION  2.  An  emergency  existing  therefor,  which emergency is hereby
16    declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after its
17    passage and approval.

Amendment


AS1134


                                                                        
 ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
Fifty-fifth Legislature                 First Regular Session - 1999
                                                                        

                                       Moved by     Ipsen                

                                       Seconded by  Darrington           


                                      IN THE SENATE
                            SENATE AMENDMENTS TO S.B. NO. 1134

 1                                AMENDMENT TO SECTION 1
 2        On page 2 of the printed bill, delete lines 53 through 55; and on page  3,
 3    delete lines 1 through 19, and insert:
 4        "  A  biological  father, not married to the mother, by virtue of the
 5    fact that he has engaged in a sexual relationship with a woman, is  deemed  to
 6    be on notice that a pregnancy and that a termination of parental rights and an
 7    adoption  proceeding  regarding the child may occur, and has a duty to protect
 8    his own rights and interests.  He is therefore entitled to actual notice of  a
 9    termination  or  an  adoption  proceeding with regard to that child only if he
10    filed a notice of his claim to paternity to the child born out-of-wedlock  and
11    his  willingness and intent to support the child to the best of his ability or
12    who meets one (1) of the exceptions set forth in subsection (5) of  this  sec-
13    tion.
14        (5)  Notice  of a termination of parental rights or an adoption proceeding
15    shall be served on each of the following persons:
16        (a)  Any person who is adjudicated by a court in  this  state  to  be  the
17        father of the child;
18        (b)  Any  person  who is adjudicated by a court of another state or terri-
19        tory of the United States to be the father of the child;
20        (c)  Any person who is recorded on the child's birth  certificate  as  the
21        child's father;
22        (d)  Any  person who is openly living in the same household with the child
23        and the child's mother at the time the  proceeding  is  initiated  and  is
24        holding himself out to be the child's father; and
25        (e)  Any  person  who  is married to the child's mother at the time of the
26        termination or adoption proceeding. 
27        ( 7  6 )  In any termination  proceeding  pertaining
28    to  a  child  born  out-of-wedlock,  if  there is no showing that the putative
29    father has consented to termination prior to the granting of a decree allowing
30    the termination, a certificate shall be obtained  from  the  vital  statistics
31    unit of the department of health and welfare, signed by the state registrar of
32    vital  statistics,  which  certificate  shall state that a diligent search has
33    been made of the registry of notices from putative fathers, of  a  child  born
34    out-of-wedlock, and that the putative father involved is not registered.
35        ( 8  7 )  Identities of putative fathers can only be
36    released pursuant to procedures contained in chapter 3, title 9, Idaho Code.
37        (  9    8  )  To  cover the cost of implementing and
38    maintaining said registry, the vital statistics  unit  of  the  department  of
39    health  and welfare shall charge a registration fee of ten dollars ($10.00) at
40    the time the putative father registers his intent  to  exercise  his  parental
41    rights.  It  is  the  intent  of  the legislature that the fee shall cover all
42    direct and indirect costs incurred pursuant to  this  section.  The  board  of
43    health and welfare shall annually review the fees and expenses incurred pursu-
44    ant to administering the provisions of this section.

                                ]]]

                                         2

 1        (  10  9 )  Consistent with its authority denoted in
 2    the vital statistics act, section 39-242(c), Idaho Code, the board  of  health
 3    and  welfare shall adopt, amend and repeal regulations for the purpose of car-
 4    rying out the provisions of this section.".

 5                                AMENDMENT TO SECTION 3
 6        On page 6, delete lines 3 through 14, and insert:
 7        " Where the putative father has failed to timely register a claim for
 8    paternity, notice under  this  section  shall  not  be  required  unless  such
 9    putative  father  is one of those persons specifically set forth in subsection
10    (5) of section 16-1513, Idaho Code. ".

11                                AMENDMENT TO SECTION 4
12        On page 6, in line 53, following "  Code  "  insert:  "  ,
13    unless  such putative father is one of those persons specifically set forth in
14    subsection (5) of section 16-1513, Idaho Code ".

15                                 CORRECTION TO TITLE
16        On page 1, in line 4, following "REGISTERED" insert:  ",  TO  PROVIDE  THE
17    EFFECT  OF  A   SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A WOMAN BY A BIOLOGICAL FATHER AND TO
18    PROVIDE FOR SERVICE OF NOTICE OF A TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS OR AN  ADOP-
19    TION  PROCEEDING  ON  CERTAIN  PERSONS";  delete lines 7 through 9 and insert:
20    "SECTION 16-2007, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE THAT WHERE THE  PUTATIVE  FATHER  HAS
21    FAILED  TO  TIMELY REGISTER A CLAIM FOR PATERNITY NOTICE SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED
22    WITH EXCEPTIONS AND TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CORRECTION; AMENDING".
                                       Moved by     Hammond              

                                       Seconded by  Gould                


                             IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                      HOUSE AMENDMENTS TO S.B. NO. 1134, As Amended

23                               AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 2
24        On page 5 of the engrossed bill, delete lines 20 through 23, inclusive; in
25    line 24, delete " g  h " and insert: "g";  in  line  26,
26    following  "Code"  delete  the  remainder  of the line and all of line 27, and
27    insert: "."; delete lines 28 through 31, and insert:
28        "h.  Unless a consent to termination signed by the parent(s) of the  child
29    has been filed by an adoption agency licensed in the state of Idaho, or unless
30    the  consent to termination was filed in conjunction with a petition for adop-
31    tion of the child, the court shall hold a hearing.";  in  line  34,  following
32    "Code" delete the remainder of the line and all of line 35, and insert: ".".

33                                AMENDMENT TO THE BILL
34        On  page  1,  delete  lines  18  through 43, delete page 2, and on page 3,
35    delete lines 1 through 44; also on page 3, in line 45, delete "SECTION 2"  and
36    insert:  "SECTION  1";  and  on  page 5, delete lines 47 through 53 and delete
37    pages 6 and 7, and insert:
38        "SECTION 2.  An emergency existing therefor,  which  emergency  is  hereby
39    declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after its
40    passage and approval.".

41                                 CORRECTIONS TO TITLE

                                ]]]

                                         3

 1        On  page 1, delete lines 3 through 6, and in line 7, delete "TION PROCEED-
 2    ING ON CERTAIN PERSONS; AMENDING SECTION"; in line 9, following "CORRECTIONS",
 3    delete the remainder of the line and all of lines 10 through 16,  and  insert:
 4    "; and declaring an emergency.".

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                                             RS08786C1
                                  
 This bill contains one amendment to Idaho's Adoption Law and four
 amendments to the Idaho Termination Statute to require putative
 fathers to file a paternity claim in order to receive notice of a
 birth of a child, or a notice of a termination or adoption proceeding
 regarding that child.
 
 Section 1 amends Section 16-1513 to eliminate the notice requirement
 of a putative father who has failed to file with the Vital Statistics
 Unit of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
 
 Section 2 amends 16-2005 to ensure that the Idaho courts will accept a
 termination or relinquishment of parental rights from a sister state
 and that notice to a putative father who has failed to register
 pursuant to 16-1513 is not necessary.
 
 Section 3 amends 16-2007 to provide that a putative father, by
 engaging in a sexual relationship with a woman is deemed to be on
 notice that a pregnancy, and that a termination and an adoption
 proceeding regarding the child, may occur. The putative father has a
 duty to protect his own rights and interests and is entitled to notice
 of a birth, or a notice of a termination or an adoption proceeding
 regarding that child, only if he has filed a timely claim for
 paternity.
 
 Section 9 amends 16-2009 to provide that a social study is not
 necessary with respect to the putative father who has failed to
 register a timely claim for paternity.
 
 Section 5 amends 16-2009 to provide that a hearing is not necessary
 with respect to the putative father who has failed to register a
 timely claim for paternity.
 
                          FISCAL IMPACT
                                  
 This legislation will provide significant financial savings for birth
 mothers, birth fathers, adoptive parents, and licensed adoption
 agencies by eliminating the substantial time, effort and publication
 costs now required to try and locate and notify putative fathers who
 have failed to register a timely claim for paternity.
 
 The work and time of the Court in issuing publication orders to locate
 non-registered putative fathers will be decreased.
 
 There will be no negative impact on the state General Fund or on local
 jurisdictions. The time and cost by the Department of Health and
 Welfare currently spent doing social studies of non-registered
 putative fathers will be eliminated. The existing $16.00 fee for
 putative fathers to register will cover costs by the Health and
 Welfare Vital Statistics Unit.
 
 CONTACT: Senator Grant Ipsen, 332-1326
 
 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/ FISCAL NOTE  S1134