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AB-2380 Parent and child relationships.(2003-2004)

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2003–2004 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2380


Introduced  by  Assembly Member Harman

February 19, 2004


An act to add Part 2 (commencing with Section 7600) to, and to repeal Part 2 (commencing with Section 7540) and Part 3 (commencing with Section 7600) of, Division 12 of the Family Code, relating to parent and child relationships.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2380, as introduced, Harman. Parent and child relationships.
Existing law, the Uniform Act on Blood Tests to Determine Paternity and the Uniform Parentage Act, govern proceedings to establish a parent and child relationship. Existing law also provides for a voluntary declaration of paternity.
This bill would repeal those provisions and would instead enact the Uniform Parentage Act of 2004. Among other things, these provisions would provide for a voluntary acknowledgment or denial of paternity filed with the Department of Child Support Services, establish a registry of paternity in the Department of Child Support Services, and impose related duties upon the department and local child support agencies. By revising the duties of local child support agencies in paternity matters, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also revise provisions governing the use of genetic testing in the determination of paternity.
Because the bill would provide that the voluntary acknowledgement of paternity and the voluntary denial of paternity would be signed under penalty of perjury, and that the intentional release of information from the registry of paternity to another individual or agency not authorized to receive the information, or the intentional release of an identifiable specimen for any purpose other than that relevant to a proceeding regarding parentage, except as specified, would be a misdemeanor, the bill would create new crimes, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program.
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, including the creation of a State Mandates Claims Fund to pay the costs of mandates that do not exceed $1,000,000 statewide and other procedures for claims whose statewide costs exceed $1,000,000.
This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Part 2 (commencing with Section 7540) of Division 12 of the Family Code is repealed.

SEC. 2.

 Part 3 (commencing with Section 7600) of Division 12 of the Family Code is repealed.

SEC. 3.

 Part 2 (commencing with Section 7600) is added to Division 12 of the Family Code, to read:

PART 2. UNIFORM PARENTAGE ACT OF 2004

CHAPTER  1. General Provisions

7600.
 This part may be cited as the Uniform Parentage Act of 2004.

7602.
 As used in this part:
(a) “Acknowledged father” means a man who has established a father-child relationship under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 7631).
(b) “Adjudicated father” means a man who has been adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be the father of a child.
(c) “Alleged father” means a man who alleges himself to be, or is alleged to be, the genetic father or a possible genetic father of a child, but whose paternity has not been determined. The term does not include any of the following:
(1) A presumed father.
(2) A man whose parental rights have been terminated or declared not to exist.
(3) A male donor.
(d) “Assisted reproduction” means a method of causing pregnancy other than sexual intercourse. The term includes all of the following:
(1) Intrauterine insemination.
(2) Donation of eggs.
(3) Donation of embryos.
(4) In-vitro fertilization and transfer of embryos.
(5) Intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
(e) “Child” means an individual of any age whose parentage may be determined under this act.
(f) “Commence” means to file the initial pleading seeking an adjudication of parentage in the appropriate court of this state.
(g) “Determination of parentage” means the establishment of the parent-child relationship by the signing of a valid acknowledgment of paternity under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 7631) or adjudication by the court.
(h) “Donor” means an individual who produces eggs or sperm used for assisted reproduction, whether or not for consideration. The term does not include any of the following:
(1) A husband who provides sperm, or a wife who provides eggs, to be used for assisted reproduction by the wife.
(2) A woman who gives birth to a child by means of assisted reproduction.
(3) A parent under Chapter 7 (commencing with 7671).
(i) “Ethnic or racial group” means, for purposes of genetic testing, a recognized group that an individual identifies as all or part of the individual’s ancestry or that is so identified by other information.
(j) “Genetic testing” means an analysis of genetic markers to exclude or identify a man as the father or a woman as the mother of a child. The term includes an analysis of one or a combination of the following:
(1) Deoxyribonucleic acid.
(2) Blood-group antigens, red-cell antigens, human-leukocyte antigens, serum enzymes, serum proteins, or red-cell enzymes.
(k) “Man” means a male individual of any age.
(l) “Parent” means an individual who has established a parent-child relationship under Section 7621.
(m) “Parent-child relationship” means the legal relationship between a child and a parent of the child. The term includes the mother-child relationship and the father-child relationship.
(n) “Paternity index” means the likelihood of paternity calculated by computing the ratio between:
(1) The likelihood that the tested man is the father, based on the genetic markers of the tested man, mother, and child, conditioned on the hypothesis that the tested man is the father of the child.
(2) The likelihood that the tested man is not the father, based on the genetic markers of the tested man, mother, and child, conditioned on the hypothesis that the tested man is not the father of the child and that the father is of the same ethnic or racial group as the tested man.
(o) “Presumed father” means a man who, by operation of law under Section 7624, is recognized as the father of a child until that status is rebutted or confirmed in a judicial proceeding.
(p) “Probability of paternity” means the measure, for the ethnic or racial group to which the alleged father belongs, of the probability that the man in question is the father of the child, compared with a random, unrelated man of the same ethnic or racial group, expressed as a percentage incorporating the paternity index and a prior probability.
(q) “Record” means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.
(r) “Signatory” means an individual who authenticates a record and is bound by its terms.
(s) “State” means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
(t) “Support-enforcement agency” means a public official or agency authorized to seek:
(1) Enforcement of support orders or laws relating to the duty of support.
(2) Establishment or modification of child support.
(3) Determination of parentage.
(4) Location of child-support obligors and their income and assets.

7603.
 (a) This part applies to a determination of parentage in this state.
(b) The court shall apply the law of this state to adjudicate the parent-child relationship. The applicable law does not depend on either of the following:
(1) The place of birth of the child.
(2) The past or present residence of the child.
(c) This part does not create, enlarge, or diminish parental rights or duties under other law of this state.
(d) This part does not authorize or prohibit an agreement between a woman and a man and another woman in which the woman relinquishes all rights as a parent of a child conceived by means of assisted reproduction, and which provides that the man and other woman become the parents of the child. If a birth results under such an agreement and the agreement is unenforceable in this state, the parent-child relationship is determined as provided in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 7621).

7604.
 The superior court is authorized to adjudicate parentage under this part.

7605.
 Proceedings under this part are subject to any other state law governing the health, safety, privacy, and liberty of a child or other individual who could be jeopardized by disclosure of identifying information, including address, telephone number, place of employment, social security number, and the child’s daycare facility and school.

7606.
 Provisions of this part relating to the determination of paternity apply to determinations of maternity.

CHAPTER  2. Parent-Child Relationship

7621.
 (a) The mother-child relationship is established between a woman and a child by any of the following:
(1) The woman’s having given birth to the child.
(2) An adjudication of the woman’s maternity.
(3) Adoption of the child by the woman.
(b) The father-child relationship is established between a man and a child by any of the following:
(1) An unrebutted presumption of the man’s paternity of the child under Section 7624.
(2) An effective acknowledgment of paternity by the man under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 7631), unless the acknowledgment has been rescinded or successfully challenged.
(3) An adjudication of the man’s paternity.
(4) Adoption of the child by the man.
(5) The man’s having consented to assisted reproduction by a woman under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 7671) which resulted in the birth of the child.

7622.
 A child born to parents who are not married to each other has the same rights under the law as a child born to parents who are married to each other.

7623.
 Unless parental rights are terminated, a parent-child relationship established under this part applies for all purposes, except as otherwise specifically provided by other law of this state.

7624.
 (a) A man is presumed to be the father of a child if any of the following apply:
(1) He and the mother of the child are married to each other and the child is born during the marriage.
(2) He and the mother of the child were married to each other and the child is born within 300 days after the marriage is terminated by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce, or after a decree of separation.
(3) Before the birth of the child, he and the mother of the child married each other in apparent compliance with law, even if the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and the child is born during the invalid marriage or within 300 days after its termination by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce, or after a decree of separation.
(4) After the birth of the child, he and the mother of the child married each other in apparent compliance with law, whether or not the marriage is or could be declared invalid, and he voluntarily asserted his paternity of the child and one of the following applies:
(A) The assertion is in a record filed with a state agency maintaining birth records.
(B) He agreed to be and is named as the child’s father on the child’s birth certificate.
(C) He promised in a record to support the child as his own.
(5) For the first two years of the child’s life, he resided in the same household with the child and openly held out the child as his own.
(b) A presumption of paternity established under this section may be rebutted only by an adjudication under Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 7661).

CHAPTER  3. Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity

7631.
 The mother of a child and a man claiming to be the genetic father of the child may sign an acknowledgment of paternity with intent to establish the man’s paternity.

7632.
 (a) An acknowledgment of paternity shall include all of the following:
(1) Be in a record.
(2) Be signed, or otherwise authenticated, under penalty of perjury by the mother and by the man seeking to establish his paternity.
(3) State that the child whose paternity is being acknowledged:
(A) Does not have a presumed father, or has a presumed father whose full name is stated; and
(B) Does not have another acknowledged or adjudicated father.
(4) State whether there has been genetic testing and, if so, that the acknowledging man’s claim of paternity is consistent with the results of the testing.
(5) State that the signatories understand that the acknowledgment is the equivalent of a judicial adjudication of paternity of the child and that a challenge to the acknowledgment is permitted only under limited circumstances and is barred after two years.
(b) An acknowledgment of paternity is void if it does any of the following:
(1) States that another man is a presumed father, unless a denial of paternity signed or otherwise authenticated by the presumed father is filed with the agency maintaining birth records.
(2) States that another man is an acknowledged or adjudicated father.
(3) Falsely denies the existence of a presumed, acknowledged, or adjudicated father of the child.
(c) A presumed father may sign or otherwise authenticate an acknowledgment of paternity.

7633.
 A presumed father may sign a denial of his paternity. The denial is valid only if all of the following apply:
(a) An acknowledgment of paternity signed, or otherwise authenticated, by another man is filed pursuant to Section 7635.
(b) The denial is in a record, and is signed, or otherwise authenticated, under penalty of perjury.
(c) The presumed father has not previously either:
(1) Acknowledged his paternity, unless the previous acknowledgment has been rescinded pursuant to Section 7637 or successfully challenged pursuant to Section 7638.
(2) Been adjudicated to be the father of the child.

7634.
 (a) An acknowledgment of paternity and a denial of paternity may be contained in a single document or may be signed in counterparts, and may be filed separately or simultaneously. If the acknowledgement and denial are both necessary, neither is valid until both are filed.
(b) An acknowledgment of paternity or a denial of paternity may be signed before the birth of the child.
(c) Subject to subdivision (a), an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity takes effect on the birth of the child or the filing of the document with the Department of Child Support Services, whichever occurs later.
(d) An acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity signed by a minor is valid if it is otherwise in compliance with this part.

7635.
 (a) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 7637 and 7638, a valid acknowledgment of paternity filed with the Department of Child Support Services is equivalent to an adjudication of paternity of a child and confers upon the acknowledged father all of the rights and duties of a parent.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 7637 and 7638, a valid denial of paternity by a presumed father filed with the Department of Child Support Services in conjunction with a valid acknowledgment of paternity is equivalent to an adjudication of the nonpaternity of the presumed father and discharges the presumed father from all rights and duties of a parent.

7636.
 The Department of Child Support Services shall charge a fee for filing an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity to cover the costs of maintaining the registry.

7637.
 A signatory may rescind an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity by commencing a proceeding to rescind before the earlier of:
(a) Sixty days after the effective date of the acknowledgment or denial, as provided in Section 7634.
(b) The date of the first hearing, in a proceeding to which the signatory is a party, before a court to adjudicate an issue relating to the child, including a proceeding that establishes support.

7638.
 (a) After the period for rescission under Section 7637 has expired, a signatory of an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity may commence a proceeding to challenge the acknowledgment or denial only:
(1) On the basis of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact; and
(2) Within two years after the acknowledgment or denial is filed with the Department of Child Support Services.
(b) A party challenging an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity has the burden of proof.

7639.
 (a) Every signatory to an acknowledgment of paternity and any related denial of paternity shall be made a party to a proceeding to rescind or challenge the acknowledgment or denial.
(b) For the purpose of rescission of, or challenge to, an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity, a signatory submits to personal jurisdiction of this state by signing the acknowledgment or denial, effective upon the filing of the document with the agency maintaining birth records.
(c) Except for good cause shown, during the pendency of a proceeding to rescind or challenge an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity, the court may not suspend the legal responsibilities of a signatory arising from the acknowledgment, including the duty to pay child support.
(d) A proceeding to rescind or to challenge an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity shall be conducted in the same manner as a proceeding to adjudicate parentage under Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 7661).
(e) At the conclusion of a proceeding to rescind or challenge an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity, the court shall order the agency maintaining birth records to amend the birth record of the child, if appropriate.

7639.10.
 A court or administrative agency conducting a judicial or administrative proceeding is not required or permitted to ratify an unchallenged acknowledgment of paternity.

7639.11.
 A court of this state shall give full faith and credit to an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity effective in another state if the acknowledgment or denial has been signed and is otherwise in compliance with the law of the other state.

7639.12.
 (a) To facilitate compliance with this chapter, the Department of Child Support Services shall prescribe forms for the acknowledgment of paternity and the denial of paternity.
(b) A valid acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity is not affected by a later modification of the prescribed form.

7639.13.
 The Department of Child Support Services may release information relating to the acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity to a signatory of the acknowledgment or denial and to courts and appropriate state or federal agencies of this or another state.

7639.14.
 The Department of Child Support Services may adopt rules to implement this chapter.

CHAPTER  4. Registry of Paternity
Article  1. General Provisions

7641.
 A registry of paternity is established in the Department of Child Support Services.

7642.
 (a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b) or Section 7645, a man who desires to be notified of a proceeding for adoption of, or termination of parental rights regarding, a child that he may have fathered shall register in the registry of paternity before the birth of the child or within 30 days after the birth.
(b) A man is not required to register if either of the following apply:
(1) A father-child relationship between the man and the child has been established under this act or other law.
(2) The man commences a proceeding to adjudicate his paternity before the court has terminated his parental rights.
(c) A registrant shall promptly notify the registry in a record of any change in the information registered. The Department of Child Support Services shall incorporate all new information received into its records but need not affirmatively seek to obtain current information for incorporation in the registry.

7643.
 Notice of a proceeding for the adoption of, or termination of parental rights, regarding a child shall be given to a registrant who has timely registered. Notice shall be given in a manner prescribed for service of process in a civil action.

7644.
 The parental rights of a man who may be the father of a child may be terminated without notice if all of the following apply:
(a) The child has not attained one year of age at the time of the termination of parental rights.
(b) The man did not register timely with the Department of Child Support Services.
(c) The man is not exempt from registration under Section 7642.

7645.
 (a) If a child has attained one year of age, notice of a proceeding for adoption of, or termination of parental rights regarding, the child shall be given to every alleged father of the child, whether or not he has registered with the Department of Child Support Services.
(b) Notice shall be given in a manner prescribed for service of process in a civil action.

Article  2. Operation of Registry

7649.11.
 The Department of Child Support Services shall prepare a form for registering. The form shall require the signature of the registrant. The form shall state that the form is signed under penalty of perjury. The form shall also state all of the following:
(a) A timely registration entitles the registrant to notice of a proceeding for adoption of the child or termination of the registrant’s parental rights.
(b) A timely registration does not commence a proceeding to establish paternity.
(c) The information disclosed on the form may be used against the registrant to establish paternity.
(d) Services to assist in establishing paternity are available to the registrant through the Department of Child Support Services.
(e) The registrant should also register in another state if conception or birth of the child occurred in the other state.
(f) Information on registries of other states is available from appropriate state agency or agencies.
(g) Procedures exist to rescind the registration of a claim of paternity.

7649.12.
 (a) The Department of Child Support Services need not seek to locate the mother of a child who is the subject of a registration, but shall send a copy of the notice of registration to a mother if she has provided an address.
(b) Information contained in the registry is confidential and may be released on request only to:
(1) A court or a person designated by the court.
(2) The mother of the child who is the subject of the registration.
(3) An agency authorized by other law to receive the information.
(4) A licensed child-placing agency.
(5) The Department of Child Support Services or a local child support enforcement agency.
(6) A party or the party’s attorney of record in a proceeding under this part or in a proceeding for adoption of, or for termination of parental rights regarding, a child who is the subject of the registration.
(7) The registry of paternity in another state.

7649.13.
 The intentional release of information from the registry to another individual or agency not authorized to receive the information under Section 7649.12 is a misdemeanor.

7649.14.
 A registrant may rescind his registration at any time by sending to the registry a rescission in a record signed or otherwise authenticated by him, and witnessed or notarized.

7649.15.
 If a man registers more than 30 days after the birth of the child, the Department of Child Support Services shall notify the registrant by sending a notice that indicates, on its face, the fact that his registration was not timely filed.

7649.16.
 (a) A fee may not be charged for filing a registration or a rescission of registration.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c), the Department of Child Support Services may charge a reasonable fee for making a search of the registry and for furnishing a certificate.
(c) The Department of Child Support Services and local child support enforcement agencies are not required to pay the fee authorized by subdivision (b).

Article  3. Search of Registries

7649.21.
 (a) If a father-child relationship has not been established under this part for a child under one year of age, a petitioner for adoption of, or termination of, parental rights regarding, the child, shall obtain a certificate of search of the registry of paternity.
(b) If a petitioner for adoption of, or termination of parental rights regarding, a child has reason to believe that the conception or birth of the child may have occurred in another state, the petitioner shall also obtain a certificate of search from the registry of paternity, if any, in that state.

7649.22.
 (a) The Department of Child Support Services shall furnish to the requester a certificate of search of the registry on request of an individual, court, or agency identified in Section 7649.12.
(b) A certificate provided by the Department of Child Support Services shall be signed on behalf of the department and state both of the following:
(1) A search has been made of the registry.
(2) A registration containing the information required to identify the registrant either:
(A) Has been found and is attached to the certificate of search.
(B) Has not been found.
(c) A petitioner shall file the certificate of search with the court before a proceeding for adoption of, or termination of parental rights regarding, a child may be concluded.

7649.23.
 A certificate of search of the registry of paternity in this or another state is admissible in a proceeding for adoption of, or termination of parental rights regarding, a child and, if relevant, in other legal proceedings.

CHAPTER  5. Genetic Testing

7651.
 This chapter governs genetic testing of an individual to determine parentage, whether the individual either:
(a) Voluntarily submits to testing.
(b) Is tested pursuant to an order of the court, the Department of Child Support Services, or a local child support enforcement agency.

7652.
 (a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter and Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 7661), the court shall order the child and other designated individuals to submit to genetic testing if the request for testing is supported by the sworn statement of a party to the proceeding either:
(1) Alleging paternity and stating facts establishing a reasonable probability of the requisite sexual contact between the individuals.
(2) Denying paternity and stating facts establishing a possibility that sexual contact between the individuals, if any, did not result in the conception of the child.
(b) The Department of Child Support Services or a local child support enforcement agency may order genetic testing only if there is no presumed, acknowledged, or adjudicated father.
(c) If a request for genetic testing of a child is made before birth, the court, the Department of Child Support Services, or a local child support enforcement agency may not order in-utero testing.
(d) If two or more men are subject to court-ordered genetic testing, the testing may be ordered concurrently or sequentially.

7653.
 (a) Genetic testing shall be of a type reasonably relied upon by experts in the field of genetic testing and performed in a testing laboratory accredited by any of the following:
(1) The American Association of Blood Banks, or a successor to its functions.
(2) The American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, or a successor to its functions.
(3) An accrediting body designated by the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(b) A specimen used in genetic testing may consist of one or more samples, or a combination of samples, of blood, buccal cells, bone, hair, or other body tissue or fluid. The specimen used in the testing need not be of the same kind for each individual undergoing genetic testing.
(c) Based on the ethnic or racial group of an individual, the testing laboratory shall determine the databases from which to select frequencies for use in calculation of the probability of paternity. If there is disagreement as to the testing laboratory’s choice, the following rules apply:
(1) The individual objecting may require the testing laboratory, within 30 days after receipt of the report of the test, to recalculate the probability of paternity using an ethnic or racial group different from that used by the laboratory.
(2) The individual objecting to the testing laboratory’s initial choice shall:
(A) If the frequencies are not available to the testing laboratory for the ethnic or racial group requested, provide the requested frequencies compiled in a manner recognized by accrediting bodies.
(B) Engage another testing laboratory to perform the calculations.
(3) The testing laboratory may use its own statistical estimate if there is a question regarding which ethnic or racial group is appropriate. If available, the testing laboratory shall calculate the frequencies using statistics for any other ethnic or racial group requested.
(d) If, after recalculation using a different ethnic or racial group, genetic testing does not rebuttably identify a man as the father of a child under Section 7655, an individual who has been tested may be required to submit to additional genetic testing.

7654.
 (a) A report of genetic testing shall be contained in a record and signed under penalty of perjury by a designee of the testing laboratory. A report made under the requirements of this chapter is self-authenticating.
(b) Documentation from the testing laboratory of all of the following information is sufficient to establish a reliable chain of custody that allows the results of genetic testing to be admissible without testimony:
(1) The names and photographs of the individuals whose specimens have been taken.
(2) The names of the individuals who collected the specimens.
(3) The places and dates the specimens were collected.
(4) The names of the individuals who received the specimens in the testing laboratory.
(5) The dates the specimens were received.

7655.
 (a) Pursuant to this part, a man is rebuttably identified as the father of a child if the genetic testing complies with this chapter and the results disclose both of the following:
(1) That the man has at least a 99 percent probability of paternity, using a prior probability of 0.50, as calculated by using the combined paternity index obtained in the testing.
(2) That there is a combined paternity index of at least 100 to 1.
(b) A man identified under subdivision (a) as the father of the child may rebut the genetic testing results only by other genetic testing satisfying the requirements of this chapter which either:
(1) Excludes the man as a genetic father of the child.
(2) Identifies another man as the possible father of the child.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in Section 7659.10, if more than one man is identified by genetic testing as the possible father of the child, the court shall order them to submit to further genetic testing to identify the genetic father.

7656.
 (a) Subject to an assessment of costs pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 7661), the cost of initial genetic testing shall be advanced under any of the following circumstances:
(1) By the Department of Child Support Services or a local child support enforcement agency in a proceeding in which the Department of Child Support Services or a local child support enforcement agency is providing services.
(2) By the individual who made the request.
(3) As agreed by the parties.
(4) As ordered by the court.
(b) In cases in which the cost is advanced by the Department of Child Support Services or a local child support enforcement agency, that entity may seek reimbursement from a man who is rebuttably identified as the father.

7657.
 The court, the Department of Child Support Services, or a local child support enforcement agency shall order additional genetic testing upon the request of a party who contests the result of the original testing. If the previous genetic testing identified a man as the father of the child under Section 7655, the court, the department, or the agency may not order additional testing unless the party provides advance payment for the testing.

7658.
 (a) Subject to subdivision (b), if a genetic-testing specimen is not available from a man who may be the father of a child, for good cause and under circumstances the court considers to be just, the court may order the following individuals to submit specimens for genetic testing:
(1) The parents of the man.
(2) Brothers and sisters of the man.
(3) Other children of the man and their mothers.
(4) Other relatives of the man necessary to complete genetic testing.
(b) Issuance of an order under this section requires a finding that a need for genetic testing outweighs the legitimate interests of the individual sought to be tested.

7659.
 For good cause shown, the court may order genetic testing of a deceased individual.

7659.10.
 (a) The court may order genetic testing of a brother of a man identified as the father of a child if the man is commonly believed to have an identical brother and evidence suggests that the brother may be the genetic father of the child.
(b) If each brother satisfies the requirements as the identified father of the child under Section 7655 without consideration of another identical brother being identified as the father of the child, the court may rely on nongenetic evidence to adjudicate which brother is the father of the child.

7659.11.
 (a) Release of the report of genetic testing for parentage is controlled by applicable state law.
(b) An individual who intentionally releases an identifiable specimen of another individual for any purpose other than that relevant to the proceeding regarding parentage without a court order or the written permission of the individual who furnished the specimen commits a misdemeanor.

CHAPTER  6. Nature of Proceeding

7661.
 A civil proceeding may be maintained to adjudicate the parentage of a child. The proceeding is governed by the Code of Civil Procedure.

7662.
 Subject to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 7631) and Sections 7667 and 7669, a proceeding to adjudicate parentage may be maintained by any of the following:
(a) The child.
(b) The mother of the child.
(c) A man whose paternity of the child is to be adjudicated.
(d) The Department of Child Support Services, a local child support enforcement agency, or another governmental agency authorized by other law.
(e) An authorized adoption agency or licensed child-placing agency.
(f) A representative authorized by law to act for an individual who would otherwise be entitled to maintain a proceeding but who is deceased, incapacitated, or a minor.

7663.
 The following individuals shall be joined as parties in a proceeding to adjudicate parentage:
(a) The mother of the child.
(b) A man whose paternity of the child is to be adjudicated.

7664.
 (a) An individual may not be adjudicated to be a parent unless the court has personal jurisdiction over the individual.
(b) A court of this state having jurisdiction to adjudicate parentage may exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident individual, or the guardian or conservator of the individual, if the conditions prescribed in Section 4905 are fulfilled.
(c) Lack of jurisdiction over one individual does not preclude the court from making an adjudication of parentage binding on another individual over whom the court has personal jurisdiction.

7665.
 Venue for a proceeding to adjudicate parentage is in the county of this state in which:
(a) The child resides or is found.
(b) The respondent resides or is found if the child does not reside in this state.
(c) A proceeding for probate or administration of the presumed or alleged father’s estate has been commenced.

7666.
 A proceeding to adjudicate the parentage of a child having no presumed, acknowledged, or adjudicated father may be commenced at any time, even after either of the following:
(a) The child becomes an adult, but only if the child initiates the proceeding.
(b) An earlier proceeding to adjudicate paternity has been dismissed based on the application of a statute of limitation then in effect.

7667.
 (a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), a proceeding brought by a presumed father, the mother, or another individual to adjudicate the parentage of a child having a presumed father shall be commenced not later than two years after the birth of the child.
(b) A proceeding seeking to disprove the father-child relationship between a child and the child’s presumed father may be maintained at any time if the court determines that both of the following apply:
(1) The presumed father and the mother of the child neither cohabited nor engaged in sexual intercourse with each other during the probable time of conception.
(2) The presumed father never openly held out the child as his own.

7668.
 (a) In a proceeding to adjudicate the parentage of a child having a presumed father or to challenge the paternity of a child having an acknowledged father, the court may deny a motion seeking an order for genetic testing of the mother, the child, and the presumed or acknowledged father if the court determines that both of the following apply:
(1) The conduct of the mother or the presumed or acknowledged father estops that party from denying parentage.
(2) It would be inequitable to disprove the father-child relationship between the child and the presumed or acknowledged father.
(b) In determining whether to deny a motion seeking an order for genetic testing under this section, the court shall consider the best interest of the child, including the following factors:
(1) The length of time between the proceeding to adjudicate parentage and the time that the presumed or acknowledged father was placed on notice that he might not be the genetic father.
(2) The length of time during which the presumed or acknowledged father has assumed the role of father of the child.
(3) The facts surrounding the presumed or acknowledged father’s discovery of his possible nonpaternity.
(4) The nature of the relationship between the child and the presumed or acknowledged father.
(5) The age of the child.
(6) The harm that may result to the child if presumed or acknowledged paternity is successfully disproved.
(7) The nature of the relationship between the child and any alleged father.
(8) The extent to which the passage of time reduces the chances of establishing the paternity of another man and a child-support obligation in favor of the child.
(9) Other factors that may affect the equities arising from the disruption of the father-child relationship between the child and the presumed or acknowledged father or the chance of other harm to the child.
(c) In a proceeding involving the application of this section, a minor or incapacitated child shall be represented by a guardian ad litem.
(d) Denial of a motion seeking an order for genetic testing shall be based on clear and convincing evidence.
(e) If the court denies a motion seeking an order for genetic testing, it shall issue an order adjudicating the presumed or acknowledged father to be the father of the child.

7669.
 (a) If a child has an acknowledged father, a signatory to the acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity may commence a proceeding seeking to rescind the acknowledgement or denial or challenge the paternity of the child only within the time allowed under Section 7637 or 7638.
(b) If a child has an acknowledged father or an adjudicated father, an individual, other than the child, who is neither a signatory to the acknowledgment of paternity nor a party to the adjudication and who seeks an adjudication of paternity of the child shall commence a proceeding not later than two years after the effective date of the acknowledgment or adjudication.
(c) A proceeding under this section is subject to the application of the principles of estoppel established in Section 7668.

7669.10.
 (a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), a proceeding to adjudicate parentage may be joined with a proceeding for adoption, termination of parental rights, child custody or visitation, child support, divorce, annulment, legal separation or separate maintenance, probate or administration of an estate, or other appropriate proceeding.
(b) A respondent may not join a proceeding described in subdivision (a) with a proceeding to adjudicate parentage brought under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 4900) of Part 5 of Division 9).

7669.11.
 A proceeding to determine parentage may be commenced before the birth of the child, but may not be concluded until after the birth of the child. The following actions may be taken before the birth of the child:
(a) Service of process.
(b) Discovery.
(c) Except as prohibited by Section 7652, collection of specimens for genetic testing.

7669.12.
 (a) A minor child is a permissible party, but is not a necessary party to a proceeding under this article.
(b) The court shall appoint an attorney ad litem to represent a minor or incapacitated child if the child is a party or the court finds that the interests of the child are not adequately represented.

7669.21.
 (a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c), a record of a genetic-testing expert is admissible as evidence of the truth of the facts asserted in the report unless a party objects to its admission within 14 days after its receipt by the objecting party and cites specific grounds for exclusion. The admissibility of the report is not affected by whether the testing was performed either:
(1) Voluntarily or pursuant to an order of the court, the Department of Child Support Services, or a local child support enforcement agency.
(2) Before or after the commencement of the proceeding.
(b) A party objecting to the results of genetic testing may call one or more genetic-testing experts to testify in person or by telephone, videoconference, deposition, or another method approved by the court. Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the party offering the testimony bears the expense for the expert testifying.
(c) If a child has a presumed, acknowledged, or adjudicated father, the results of genetic testing are inadmissible to adjudicate parentage unless performed either:
(1) With the consent of both the mother and the presumed, acknowledged, or adjudicated father.
(2) Pursuant to an order of the court under Section 7652.
(d) Copies of bills for genetic testing and for prenatal and postnatal health care for the mother and child which are furnished to the adverse party not less than 10 days before the date of a hearing are admissible to establish:
(1) The amount of the charges billed.
(2) That the charges were reasonable, necessary, and customary.

7669.22.
 (a) An order for genetic testing is enforceable by contempt.
(b) If an individual whose paternity is being determined declines to submit to genetic testing ordered by the court, the court for that reason may adjudicate parentage contrary to the position of that individual.
(c) Genetic testing of the mother of a child is not a condition precedent to testing the child and a man whose paternity is being determined. If the mother is unavailable or declines to submit to genetic testing, the court may order the testing of the child and every man whose paternity is being adjudicated.

7669.23.
 (a) A respondent in a proceeding to adjudicate parentage may admit to the paternity of a child by filing a pleading to that effect or by admitting paternity under penalty of perjury when making an appearance or during a hearing.
(b) If the court finds that the admission of paternity satisfies the requirements of this section and finds that there is no reason to question the admission, the court shall issue an order adjudicating the child to be the child of the man admitting paternity.

7669.24.
 (a) In a proceeding under this chapter, the court shall issue a temporary order for support of a child if the order is appropriate and the individual ordered to pay support is one of the following:
(1) A presumed father of the child.
(2) Petitioning to have his paternity adjudicated.
(3) Identified as the father through genetic testing under Section 7655.
(4) An alleged father who has declined to submit to genetic testing.
(5) Shown by clear and convincing evidence to be the father of the child.
(6) The mother of the child.
(b) A temporary order may include provisions for custody and visitation as provided by other law of this state.

7669.31.
 The court shall apply the following rules to adjudicate the paternity of a child:
(a) The paternity of a child having a presumed, acknowledged, or adjudicated father may be disproved only by admissible results of genetic testing excluding that man as the father of the child or identifying another man as the father of the child.
(b) Unless the results of genetic testing are admitted to rebut other results of genetic testing, a man identified as the father of a child under Section 7655 shall be adjudicated the father of the child.
(c) If the court finds that genetic testing under Section 7655 neither identifies nor excludes a man as the father of a child, the court may not dismiss the proceeding. In that event, the results of genetic testing, and other evidence, are admissible to adjudicate the issue of paternity.
(d) Unless the results of genetic testing are admitted to rebut other results of genetic testing, a man excluded as the father of a child by genetic testing must be adjudicated not to be the father of the child.

7669.32.
 The court, without a jury, shall adjudicate paternity of a child.

7669.33.
 (a) On request of a party and for good cause shown, the court may close a proceeding under this chapter.
(b) A final order in a proceeding under this article is available for public inspection. Other papers and records are available only with the consent of the parties or on order of the court for good cause.

7669.34.
 The court shall issue an order adjudicating the paternity of a man who:
(a) After service of process, is in default; and
(b) Is found by the court to be the father of a child.

7669.35.
 The court may issue an order dismissing a proceeding commenced under this part for want of prosecution only without prejudice. An order of dismissal for want of prosecution purportedly with prejudice is void and has only the effect of a dismissal without prejudice.

7669.36.
 (a) The court shall issue an order adjudicating whether a man alleged or claiming to be the father is the parent of the child.
(b) An order adjudicating parentage shall identify the child by name and date of birth.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (d), the court may assess filing fees, reasonable attorney’s fees, fees for genetic testing, other costs, and necessary travel and other reasonable expenses incurred in a proceeding under this chapter. The court may award attorney’s fees, which may be paid directly to the attorney, who may enforce the order in the attorney’s own name.
(d) The court may not assess fees, costs, or expenses against the Department of Child Support Services or local child support enforcement agency of this state or another state, except as provided by other law.
(e) On request of a party and for good cause shown, the court may order that the name of the child be changed.
(f) If the order of the court is at variance with the child’s birth certificate, the court shall order the agency maintaining birth records to issue an amended birth registration.

7669.37.
 (a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), a determination of parentage is binding on:
(1) All signatories to an acknowledgement or denial of paternity as provided in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 7631).
(2) All parties to an adjudication by a court acting under circumstances that satisfy the jurisdictional requirements of Section 4905.
(b) A child is not bound by a determination of parentage under this part unless:
(1) The determination was based on an unrescinded acknowledgment of paternity and the acknowledgement is consistent with the results of genetic testing.
(2) The adjudication of parentage was based on a finding consistent with the results of genetic testing and the consistency is declared in the determination or is otherwise shown.
(3) The child was a party or was represented in the proceeding determining parentage by an attorney ad litem.
(c) In a proceeding to dissolve a marriage, the court is deemed to have made an adjudication of the parentage of a child if the court acts under circumstances that satisfy the jurisdictional requirements of Section 4905 and the final order:
(1) Expressly identifies a child as a “child of the marriage,” “issue of the marriage,” or similar words indicating that the husband is the father of the child.
(2) Provides for support of the child by the husband unless paternity is specifically disclaimed in the order.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), a determination of parentage may be a defense in a subsequent proceeding seeking to adjudicate parentage by an individual who was not a party to the earlier proceeding.
(e) A party to an adjudication of paternity may challenge the adjudication only under law of this state relating to appeal, vacation of judgments, or other judicial review.

CHAPTER  7. Child of Assisted Reproduction

7671.
 This chapter does not apply to the birth of a child conceived by means of sexual intercourse.

7672.
 A donor is not a parent of a child conceived by means of assisted reproduction.

7673.
 A man who provides sperm for, or consents to, assisted reproduction by a woman as provided in Section 7674 with the intent to be the parent of her child, is a parent of the resulting child.

7674.
 (a) Consent by a woman, and a man who intends to be a parent of a child born to the woman by assisted reproduction shall be in a record signed by the woman and the man. This requirement does not apply to a donor.
(b) Failure of a man to sign a consent required by subdivision (a), before or after birth of the child, does not preclude a finding of paternity if the woman and the man, during the first two years of the child’s life resided together in the same household with the child and openly held out the child as their own.

7675.
 (a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), the husband of a wife who gives birth to a child by means of assisted reproduction may not challenge his paternity of the child unless both of the following apply:
(1) Within two years after learning of the birth of the child he commences a proceeding to adjudicate his paternity.
(2) The court finds that he did not consent to the assisted reproduction, before or after birth of the child.
(b) A proceeding to adjudicate paternity may be maintained at any time if the court determines that all of the following apply:
(1) The husband did not provide sperm for, or before or after the birth of the child consent to, assisted reproduction by his wife.
(2) The husband and the mother of the child have not cohabited since the probable time of assisted reproduction.
(3) The husband never openly held out the child as his own.
(c) The limitation provided in this section applies to a marriage declared invalid after assisted reproduction.

7676.
 (a) If a marriage is dissolved before placement of eggs, sperm, or embryos, the former spouse is not a parent of the resulting child unless the former spouse consented in a record that if assisted reproduction were to occur after a divorce, the former spouse would be a parent of the child.
(b) The consent of a woman or a man to assisted reproduction may be withdrawn by that individual in a record at any time before placement of eggs, sperm, or embryos. An individual who withdraws consent under this section is not a parent of the resulting child.

7677.
 If an individual who consented in a record to be a parent by assisted reproduction dies before placement of eggs, sperm, or embryos, the deceased individual is not a parent of the resulting child unless the deceased spouse consented in a record that if assisted reproduction were to occur after death, the deceased individual would be a parent of the child.

7678.
 In addition to the contents required by Section 412.20 of the Code of Civil Procedure, in a proceeding under this part the summons shall contain a temporary restraining order restraining all parties, without the prior written consent of the other party or an order of the court, from removing from the state any minor child for whom the proceeding seeks to establish a parent and child relationship.

7679.
 During the pendency of a proceeding under this part, on application of a party in the manner provided by Part 4 (commencing with Section 240) of Division 2, the court may issue ex parte a protective order as defined in Section 6218 and any other order as provided in Article 1 (commencing with Section 6320) of Chapter 2 of Part 4 of Division 10.

7679.1.
 (a) After notice and a hearing, the court may issue a protective order, as defined in Section 6218, and any other restraining order as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 6340) of Chapter 2 of Part 4 of Division 10.
(b) The court may not issue a mutual protective order pursuant to subdivision (a) unless it meets the requirements of Section 6305.

7679.2.
 A judgment entered in a proceeding under this part may include a protective order, as defined in Section 6218, and any other restraining order as provided in Article 3 (commencing with Section 6360) of Chapter 2 of Part 4 of Division 10.

CHAPTER  8. Miscellaneous Provisions

7669.36.
 In applying and construing this part, consideration shall be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.

7692.
 If any provision of this part or its application to an individual or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this part which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this part are severable.

7695.
 A proceeding to adjudicate parentage which was commenced before the effective date of this part is governed by the law in effect at the time the proceeding was commenced.

SEC. 4.

 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution for certain costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district because in that regard this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.
However, notwithstanding Section 17610 of the Government Code, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains other 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. If the statewide cost of the claim for reimbursement does not exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000), reimbursement shall be made from the State Mandates Claims Fund.