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10 | 10 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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14 | 14 | | A bill to be entitled 1 |
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15 | 15 | | An act relating to adoption; amending s. 63.032, F.S.; 2 |
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16 | 16 | | revising definitions; amending s. 63.037, F.S.; 3 |
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17 | 17 | | exempting certain requirements if certain 4 |
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18 | 18 | | documentation is contained in the court's file; 5 |
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19 | 19 | | amending s. 63.0423, F.S.; providing requirements for 6 |
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20 | 20 | | an adoption entity, rather than a licensed child -7 |
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21 | 21 | | placing agency, relating to surrendered infants; 8 |
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22 | 22 | | requiring a certain finding by the court before a 9 |
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23 | 23 | | judgment terminating parental rights may be granted; 10 |
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24 | 24 | | amending s. 63.052, F.S.; providing when an adoption 11 |
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25 | 25 | | entity, rather than an intermediary, becomes the 12 |
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26 | 26 | | designated guardian of a child; requiring a child to 13 |
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27 | 27 | | be placed in an intermediary, rather than with a 14 |
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28 | 28 | | relative, under certain circumstances; amending s. 15 |
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29 | 29 | | 63.062, F.S.; revising unmarried biological father 16 |
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30 | 30 | | requirements; providing requirements for a notice of 17 |
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31 | 31 | | an intended adoption plan and service of such notice 18 |
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32 | 32 | | on an unmarried biological father; revising the 19 |
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33 | 33 | | methods by which a notice of a petition to adopt an 20 |
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34 | 34 | | adult may be completed; providing construction; making 21 |
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35 | 35 | | technical changes; amending s. 63.082, F.S.; providing 22 |
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36 | 36 | | that a consent to adoption may or may not identify a 23 |
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37 | 37 | | specific adopting parent; providing that a parent's 24 |
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38 | 38 | | identified or nonidentified consent is valid, binding, 25 |
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47 | 47 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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51 | 51 | | and enforceable; authorizing an adoption entity to 26 |
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52 | 52 | | intervene after the execution of consent and filing of 27 |
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53 | 53 | | a preliminary home study; revising certain factors a 28 |
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54 | 54 | | court must consider to transfer custody of a child; 29 |
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55 | 55 | | specifying persons who must be notified upon a 30 |
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56 | 56 | | revocation of consent; requiring the court to en ter an 31 |
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57 | 57 | | order maintaining certain placement of the child under 32 |
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58 | 58 | | certain circumstances; prohibiting a denied petition 33 |
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59 | 59 | | to terminate parental rights to be used in certain 34 |
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60 | 60 | | ways; prohibiting an identified or nonidentified 35 |
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61 | 61 | | consent from being treated as a surrender of parental 36 |
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62 | 62 | | rights; amending s. 63.085, F.S.; revising the 37 |
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63 | 63 | | requirements of such disclosure; requiring a copy of 38 |
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64 | 64 | | certain documents be filed with the court; making 39 |
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65 | 65 | | technical changes; amending s. 63.087, F.S.; requiring 40 |
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66 | 66 | | the clerk of court to issue a separate case number for 41 |
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67 | 67 | | a petition for adoption and prohibiting such petition 42 |
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68 | 68 | | from being maintained in a specified case file; 43 |
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69 | 69 | | authorizing a consent to adoption to be filed 44 |
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70 | 70 | | electronically with a petition for termination of 45 |
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71 | 71 | | parental rights; revising and providing r equirements 46 |
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72 | 72 | | for such petition; making technical changes; amending 47 |
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73 | 73 | | s. 63.088, F.S.; revising the required notice served 48 |
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74 | 74 | | with a petition to terminate parental rights; amending 49 |
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75 | 75 | | s. 63.089, F.S.; revising the factors a court must 50 |
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84 | 84 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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88 | 88 | | consider in determining a findi ng of abandonment; 51 |
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89 | 89 | | amending s. 63.122, F.S.; requiring certain notice of 52 |
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90 | 90 | | hearing be given as prescribed in the Florida Family 53 |
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91 | 91 | | Law Rules of Procedure; amending s. 63.132, F.S.; 54 |
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92 | 92 | | specifying that certain fees are hourly fees; making 55 |
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93 | 93 | | technical changes; amending s. 63.212, F.S.; removing 56 |
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94 | 94 | | the requirement that a mother's medical needs requires 57 |
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95 | 95 | | such support in order to be paid by certain persons; 58 |
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96 | 96 | | amending ss. 39.4021, 39.4022, 39.4023, 39.4024, 59 |
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97 | 97 | | 39.522, 39.812, and 63.093, F.S.; conforming cross -60 |
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98 | 98 | | references; providing an effective date. 61 |
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99 | 99 | | 62 |
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100 | 100 | | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 63 |
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101 | 101 | | 64 |
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102 | 102 | | Section 1. Subsections (1) and (12) of section 63.032, 65 |
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103 | 103 | | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 66 |
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104 | 104 | | 63.032 Definitions. —As used in this chapter, the term: 67 |
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105 | 105 | | (1) "Abandoned" means a situation in which a the parent or 68 |
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106 | 106 | | person having legal custody of a child, while being able, makes 69 |
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107 | 107 | | little or no provision for the child's support or makes little 70 |
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108 | 108 | | or no effort to communicate with the child, which situation is 71 |
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109 | 109 | | sufficient to evince rejection of an intent to reject parental 72 |
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110 | 110 | | responsibilities. If, in the opinion of the court, the efforts 73 |
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111 | 111 | | of such parent or person having legal custody of the child to 74 |
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112 | 112 | | support and communicate with the child are only marginal efforts 75 |
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121 | 121 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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125 | 125 | | that do not evince a sett led purpose to assume all parental 76 |
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126 | 126 | | duties, the court may declare the child to be abandoned. In 77 |
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127 | 127 | | making this decision, the court may consider the conduct of a 78 |
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128 | 128 | | father towards the child's mother during her pregnancy. 79 |
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129 | 129 | | (12) "Parent" means a woman who gives bir th to a child and 80 |
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130 | 130 | | who is not a gestational surrogate as defined in s. 742.13 or a 81 |
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131 | 131 | | man whose consent to the adoption of the child would be required 82 |
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132 | 132 | | under s. 63.062(1). If a child has been legally adopted, the 83 |
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133 | 133 | | term "parent" means the adoptive mother or fathe r of the child. 84 |
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134 | 134 | | The term does not include an individual whose parental 85 |
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135 | 135 | | relationship to the child has been legally terminated , an 86 |
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136 | 136 | | unmarried biological father, or an alleged or prospective 87 |
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137 | 137 | | parent. 88 |
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138 | 138 | | Section 2. Section 63.037, Florida Statutes, is amended t o 89 |
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139 | 139 | | read: 90 |
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140 | 140 | | 63.037 Proceedings applicable to cases resulting from a 91 |
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141 | 141 | | termination of parental rights under chapter 39. —A case in which 92 |
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142 | 142 | | a child minor becomes available for adoption after the parental 93 |
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143 | 143 | | rights of each parent have been terminated by a judgment ente red 94 |
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144 | 144 | | under pursuant to chapter 39 is shall be governed by s. 39.812 95 |
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145 | 145 | | and this chapter. Adoption proceedings initiated under chapter 96 |
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146 | 146 | | 39 are exempt from the following provisions of this chapter: 97 |
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147 | 147 | | requirement for search of the Florida Putative Father Registry 98 |
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148 | 148 | | provided in s. 63.054(7), if a search was previously completed 99 |
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149 | 149 | | and documentation of the search is contained in the court's case 100 |
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158 | 158 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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159 | 159 | | |
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160 | 160 | | |
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161 | 161 | | |
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162 | 162 | | file maintained in the dependency proceeding ; disclosure 101 |
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163 | 163 | | requirements for the adoption entity provided in s. 63.085(1); 102 |
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164 | 164 | | general provisions governing termination of parental rights 103 |
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165 | 165 | | pending adoption provided in s. 63.087; notice and service 104 |
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166 | 166 | | provisions governing termination of parental rights pending 105 |
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167 | 167 | | adoption provided in s. 63.088; and procedures for terminating 106 |
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168 | 168 | | parental rights pending adoption provided in s. 63.089. 107 |
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169 | 169 | | Section 3. Subsections (1) through (5) and subsection (10) 108 |
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170 | 170 | | of section 63.0423, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 109 |
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171 | 171 | | 63.0423 Procedures with respect to surrendered infants. — 110 |
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172 | 172 | | (1) Upon entry of final judgment terminat ing parental 111 |
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173 | 173 | | rights, an adoption entity a licensed child-placing agency that 112 |
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174 | 174 | | takes physical custody of an infant surrendered at a hospital, 113 |
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175 | 175 | | emergency medical services station, or fire station under 114 |
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176 | 176 | | pursuant to s. 383.50 assumes responsibility for the medic al and 115 |
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177 | 177 | | other costs associated with the emergency services and care of 116 |
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178 | 178 | | the surrendered infant from the time the adoption entity 117 |
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179 | 179 | | licensed child-placing agency takes physical custody of the 118 |
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180 | 180 | | surrendered infant. 119 |
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181 | 181 | | (2) The adoption entity licensed child-placing agency 120 |
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182 | 182 | | shall immediately seek an order from the circuit court for 121 |
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183 | 183 | | emergency custody of the surrendered infant. The emergency 122 |
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184 | 184 | | custody order remains shall remain in effect until the court 123 |
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185 | 185 | | orders preliminary approval of placement of the surrendered 124 |
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186 | 186 | | infant in the prospective home, at which time the prospective 125 |
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195 | 195 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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199 | 199 | | adoptive parents become guardians pending termination of 126 |
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200 | 200 | | parental rights and finalization of adoption or until the court 127 |
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201 | 201 | | orders otherwise. The guardianship of the prospective adoptive 128 |
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202 | 202 | | parents remains shall remain subject to the right of the 129 |
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203 | 203 | | adoption entity licensed child-placing agency to remove the 130 |
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204 | 204 | | surrendered infant from the placement during the pendency of the 131 |
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205 | 205 | | proceedings if such removal is deemed by the adoption entity 132 |
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206 | 206 | | licensed child-placing agency to be in the best interests of the 133 |
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207 | 207 | | child and the removal is in accordance with s. 63.052 . The 134 |
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208 | 208 | | adoption entity licensed child-placing agency may immediately 135 |
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209 | 209 | | seek to place the surrendered infant in a prospective adoptive 136 |
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210 | 210 | | home. 137 |
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211 | 211 | | (3) The adoption entity licensed child-placing agency that 138 |
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212 | 212 | | takes physical custody of the surrendered infant must shall, 139 |
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213 | 213 | | within 24 hours thereafter, request assistance from law 140 |
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214 | 214 | | enforcement officials to investigate and determine, through the 141 |
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215 | 215 | | Missing Children Information Clearinghouse, the National Center 142 |
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216 | 216 | | for Missing and Exploited Children, and any other national and 143 |
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217 | 217 | | state resources, whether the surrendered infant is a missing 144 |
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218 | 218 | | child. 145 |
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219 | 219 | | (4) The parent who surrenders the infant in accordance 146 |
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220 | 220 | | with s. 383.50 is presumed to have consented to term ination of 147 |
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221 | 221 | | parental rights, and express consent is not required. Except 148 |
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222 | 222 | | when there is actual or suspected child abuse or neglect, the 149 |
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223 | 223 | | adoption entity may licensed child-placing agency shall not 150 |
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232 | 232 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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236 | 236 | | attempt to pursue, search for, or notify that parent as provided 151 |
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237 | 237 | | in s. 63.088 and chapter 49. For purposes of s. 383.50 and this 152 |
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238 | 238 | | section, an infant who tests positive for illegal drugs, 153 |
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239 | 239 | | narcotic prescription drugs, alcohol, or other substances, but 154 |
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240 | 240 | | shows no other signs of child abuse or neglect, must shall be 155 |
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241 | 241 | | placed in the custody of an adoption entity a licensed child-156 |
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242 | 242 | | placing agency. Such a placement does not eliminate the 157 |
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243 | 243 | | reporting requirement under s. 383.50(7). When the department is 158 |
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244 | 244 | | contacted regarding an infant properly surrendered under this 159 |
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245 | 245 | | section and s. 383.50, the department must shall provide 160 |
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246 | 246 | | instruction to contact an adoption entity a licensed child-161 |
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247 | 247 | | placing agency and may not take custody of the infant unless 162 |
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248 | 248 | | reasonable efforts to contact an adoption entity a licensed 163 |
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249 | 249 | | child-placing agency to accept the infant have not been 164 |
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250 | 250 | | successful. 165 |
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251 | 251 | | (5) A petition for termination of parental rights under 166 |
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252 | 252 | | this section may not be filed until 30 days after the date the 167 |
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253 | 253 | | infant was surrendered in accordance with s. 383.50. The court 168 |
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254 | 254 | | may not grant a judgment terminating a petition for termination 169 |
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255 | 255 | | of parental rights may not be granted until the court finds that 170 |
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256 | 256 | | a parent has failed to reclaim or claim the surrendered infant 171 |
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257 | 257 | | within the time period specified in s. 383.50. 172 |
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258 | 258 | | (10) Except to the extent expressly provided in this 173 |
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259 | 259 | | section, proceedings initiated by an adoption entity a licensed 174 |
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260 | 260 | | child-placing agency for the termination of parental rights and 175 |
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269 | 269 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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270 | 270 | | |
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271 | 271 | | |
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273 | 273 | | subsequent adoption of a newborn infant left at a hospital, 176 |
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274 | 274 | | emergency medical services station, or fire station in 177 |
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275 | 275 | | accordance with s. 383.50 must shall be conducted under pursuant 178 |
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276 | 276 | | to this chapter. 179 |
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277 | 277 | | Section 4. Section 63.052, Florida Statutes, is amended to 180 |
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278 | 278 | | read: 181 |
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279 | 279 | | 63.052 Guardians designated; proof of commitment. — 182 |
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280 | 280 | | (1)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), if a child for 183 |
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281 | 281 | | minors who is have been placed for adoption with an adoption 184 |
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282 | 282 | | entity, other than an intermediary, such adoption entity is 185 |
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283 | 283 | | shall be the guardian of the person of the child minor and has 186 |
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284 | 284 | | the responsibility and authority to provide for the needs and 187 |
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285 | 285 | | welfare of the child minor. 188 |
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286 | 286 | | (b)(2) If a child For minors who is have been voluntarily 189 |
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287 | 287 | | surrendered to an adoption entity intermediary through an 190 |
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288 | 288 | | execution of a consent to adoption, the adoption entity is 191 |
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289 | 289 | | intermediary shall be responsible for the child minor until the 192 |
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290 | 290 | | time a court orders preliminary approval of placement of the 193 |
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291 | 291 | | child minor in the prospective adoptive home, after which time 194 |
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292 | 292 | | the prospective adoptive parents shall become the child's 195 |
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293 | 293 | | guardians pending finalization of adoption, subject to the 196 |
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294 | 294 | | adoption entity's intermediary's right and responsibility to 197 |
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295 | 295 | | remove the child from the prospective adoptive home if the 198 |
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296 | 296 | | removal is deemed by the adoption entity intermediary to be in 199 |
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297 | 297 | | the best interests of the child. The adoption entity 200 |
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306 | 306 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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307 | 307 | | |
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308 | 308 | | |
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309 | 309 | | |
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310 | 310 | | intermediary may not remove the child without a court order 201 |
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311 | 311 | | unless the child is in danger of imminent harm. The adoption 202 |
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312 | 312 | | entity is not intermediary does not become responsible for the 203 |
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313 | 313 | | minor child's medical bills that were incurred before taking 204 |
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314 | 314 | | physical custody of the child after the execution of adoption 205 |
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315 | 315 | | consents. Notwithstanding the guardianship provisions in this 206 |
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316 | 316 | | section, the requirements of s. 627.6578 relating to insurance 207 |
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317 | 317 | | coverage for adopted and foster children remain in effect. Prior 208 |
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318 | 318 | | to the court's entry of an order granti ng preliminary approval 209 |
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319 | 319 | | of the placement, the intermediary shall have the responsibility 210 |
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320 | 320 | | and authority to provide for the needs and welfare of the minor. 211 |
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321 | 321 | | A child minor may not be placed in a prospective adoptive home 212 |
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322 | 322 | | until that home has received a favorabl e preliminary home study, 213 |
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323 | 323 | | as provided in s. 63.092, completed and approved within 1 year 214 |
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324 | 324 | | before such placement in the prospective home. The provisions of 215 |
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325 | 325 | | s. 627.6578 shall remain in effect notwithstanding the 216 |
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326 | 326 | | guardianship provisions in this section. 217 |
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327 | 327 | | (2)(3) If a child minor is surrendered to an adoption 218 |
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328 | 328 | | entity for subsequent adoption and a suitable prospective 219 |
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329 | 329 | | adoptive home is not available under pursuant to s. 63.092 at 220 |
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330 | 330 | | the time the child minor is surrendered to the adoption entity, 221 |
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331 | 331 | | the child minor must be placed in a licensed foster care home, 222 |
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332 | 332 | | with a person or family that has received a favorable 223 |
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333 | 333 | | preliminary home study as required under pursuant to subsection 224 |
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334 | 334 | | (1)(2), or with an intermediary a relative until a suitable 225 |
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343 | 343 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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344 | 344 | | |
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345 | 345 | | |
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346 | 346 | | |
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347 | 347 | | prospective adoptive home is availabl e. 226 |
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348 | 348 | | (3)(4) If a child minor is voluntarily surrendered to an 227 |
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349 | 349 | | adoption entity for subsequent adoption and the adoption does 228 |
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350 | 350 | | not become final within 180 days after termination of parental 229 |
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351 | 351 | | rights, the adoption entity must report to the court on the 230 |
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352 | 352 | | status of the child minor and the court may at that time proceed 231 |
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353 | 353 | | under s. 39.701 or take action reasonably necessary to protect 232 |
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354 | 354 | | the best interest of the child minor. 233 |
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355 | 355 | | (4)(5) The recital in a written consent, answer, or 234 |
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356 | 356 | | recommendation filed by an adoption entity th at the child minor 235 |
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357 | 357 | | has been permanently committed to the adoption entity or that 236 |
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358 | 358 | | the adoption entity is duly licensed is shall be prima facie 237 |
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359 | 359 | | proof of such commitment. A consent for adoption signed by an 238 |
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360 | 360 | | adoption entity does not need to not comply with s. 63.082. 239 |
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361 | 361 | | (5)(6) Unless otherwise authorized by law or ordered by 240 |
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362 | 362 | | the court, the department is not responsible for expenses 241 |
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363 | 363 | | incurred by other adoption entities participating in a placement 242 |
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364 | 364 | | of a child minor. 243 |
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365 | 365 | | (6)(7) The court retains jurisd iction of a child minor who 244 |
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366 | 366 | | has been placed for adoption until the adoption is final. After 245 |
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367 | 367 | | a child minor is placed with an adoption entity or prospective 246 |
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368 | 368 | | adoptive parent, the court may review the status of the child 247 |
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369 | 369 | | minor and the progress toward permanent adoptive placement. 248 |
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370 | 370 | | Section 5. Section 63.062, Florida Statutes, is amended to 249 |
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371 | 371 | | read: 250 |
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380 | 380 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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381 | 381 | | |
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383 | 383 | | |
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384 | 384 | | 63.062 Persons required to consent to adoption; affidavit 251 |
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385 | 385 | | of nonpaternity; waiver of venue. — 252 |
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386 | 386 | | (1) Unless supported by one or more of the grounds 253 |
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387 | 387 | | enumerated under s. 63.089(3), a petition to terminate parental 254 |
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388 | 388 | | rights pending adoption may be granted only if written consent 255 |
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389 | 389 | | has been executed as provided in s. 63.082 after the birth of 256 |
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390 | 390 | | the child minor or notice has been served under s. 63.088 to: 257 |
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391 | 391 | | (a) The mother of the child minor. 258 |
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392 | 392 | | (b) The father of the child minor, if: 259 |
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393 | 393 | | 1. The child minor was conceived or born while the father 260 |
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394 | 394 | | was married to the mother; 261 |
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395 | 395 | | 2. The child minor is the father's his child by adoption; 262 |
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396 | 396 | | 3. The child minor has been adjudicated by the court to be 263 |
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397 | 397 | | the father's his child before the date a petition for 264 |
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398 | 398 | | termination of parental rights is filed; 265 |
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399 | 399 | | 4. The father He has filed an affidavit of paternity under 266 |
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400 | 400 | | pursuant to s. 382.013(2)(c) or he is listed on the child's 267 |
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401 | 401 | | birth certificate before the date a petition for termination of 268 |
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402 | 402 | | parental rights is filed; or 269 |
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403 | 403 | | 5. In the case of an unmarried biological father, he has 270 |
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404 | 404 | | acknowledged in writing, signed in the presence of a competent 271 |
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405 | 405 | | witness, that he is the father of the child minor, has filed 272 |
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406 | 406 | | such acknowledgment with the Office of Vital Statistics of the 273 |
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407 | 407 | | Department of Health within the required timeframes, and has 274 |
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408 | 408 | | strictly complied with the requirements of subsection (2). 275 |
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417 | 417 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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418 | 418 | | |
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419 | 419 | | |
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420 | 420 | | |
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421 | 421 | | 276 |
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422 | 422 | | The status of the father must shall be determined at the time of 277 |
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423 | 423 | | the filing of the pe tition to terminate parental rights and may 278 |
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424 | 424 | | not be modified, except as otherwise provided in s. 279 |
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425 | 425 | | 63.0423(9)(a), for purposes of his obligations and rights under 280 |
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426 | 426 | | this chapter by acts occurring after the filing of the petition 281 |
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427 | 427 | | to terminate parental rights. 282 |
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428 | 428 | | (c) The child minor, if 12 years of age or older, unless 283 |
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429 | 429 | | the court finds that it is not in the best interest of the child 284 |
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430 | 430 | | to require his or her minor dispenses with the minor's consent. 285 |
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431 | 431 | | (d) Any person lawfully entitled to custody of the child 286 |
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432 | 432 | | minor if required by the court. 287 |
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433 | 433 | | (e) The court having jurisdiction to determine custody of 288 |
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434 | 434 | | the child minor, if the person having physical custody of the 289 |
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435 | 435 | | child minor does not have authority to consent to the adoption. 290 |
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436 | 436 | | (2) In accordance with subsection (1), th e consent of an 291 |
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437 | 437 | | unmarried biological father is shall be necessary only if the 292 |
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438 | 438 | | unmarried biological father has complied with all of the 293 |
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439 | 439 | | requirements of this subsection. 294 |
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440 | 440 | | (a)1. With regard to a child who is placed with adoptive 295 |
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441 | 441 | | parents more than 6 months af ter the child's birth, an unmarried 296 |
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442 | 442 | | biological father must have developed a substantial relationship 297 |
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443 | 443 | | with the child, taken some measure of responsibility for the 298 |
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444 | 444 | | child and the child's future, and demonstrated a full commitment 299 |
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445 | 445 | | to the responsibilities of pa renthood by providing reasonable 300 |
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454 | 454 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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455 | 455 | | |
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456 | 456 | | |
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457 | 457 | | |
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458 | 458 | | and regular financial support for the child's educational, 301 |
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459 | 459 | | medical, and living expenses to the child in accordance with the 302 |
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460 | 460 | | unmarried biological father's ability, if not prevented from 303 |
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461 | 461 | | doing so by the person or authorized a gency having lawful 304 |
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462 | 462 | | custody of the child, and either: 305 |
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463 | 463 | | a. Regularly visited the child at least monthly, when 306 |
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464 | 464 | | physically and financially able to do so and when not prevented 307 |
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465 | 465 | | from doing so by the birth mother or the person or authorized 308 |
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466 | 466 | | agency having lawful custody of the child; or 309 |
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467 | 467 | | b. Maintained regular communication with the child or with 310 |
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468 | 468 | | the person or agency having the care or custody of the child, 311 |
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469 | 469 | | when physically or financially unable to visit the child or when 312 |
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470 | 470 | | not prevented from doing so by the birth mother or person or 313 |
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471 | 471 | | authorized agency having lawful custody of the child. 314 |
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472 | 472 | | 2. An unmarried biological father who openly lived with 315 |
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473 | 473 | | the child for at least 6 months within the 1 -year period 316 |
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474 | 474 | | following the birth of the child and immediately preceding 317 |
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475 | 475 | | placement of the child with adoptive parents and who openly held 318 |
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476 | 476 | | himself out to be the father of the child during that period is 319 |
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477 | 477 | | shall be deemed to have developed a substantial relationship 320 |
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478 | 478 | | with the child and to have otherwise met the requirements of 321 |
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479 | 479 | | this paragraph. 322 |
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480 | 480 | | (b) With regard to a child who is 6 months of age or 323 |
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481 | 481 | | younger at the time the child is placed for adoption with the 324 |
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482 | 482 | | adoptive parents, an unmarried biological father must have 325 |
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491 | 491 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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492 | 492 | | |
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493 | 493 | | |
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494 | 494 | | |
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495 | 495 | | demonstrated a full commitment to his parental responsibility by 326 |
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496 | 496 | | having performed all of the following acts within 30 days after 327 |
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497 | 497 | | receipt of service of the notice of intended adoption plan prior 328 |
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498 | 498 | | to the time the mother executes her consent for adoption : 329 |
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499 | 499 | | 1. Filed a notarized claim of paternity form with the 330 |
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500 | 500 | | Florida Putative Father R egistry within the Office of Vital 331 |
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501 | 501 | | Statistics of the Department of Health, which form must shall be 332 |
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502 | 502 | | maintained in the confidential registry established for that 333 |
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503 | 503 | | purpose and is shall be considered filed when the notice is 334 |
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504 | 504 | | entered in the registry of notices from unmarried biological 335 |
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505 | 505 | | fathers. 336 |
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506 | 506 | | 2. Upon service of a notice of an intended adoption plan 337 |
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507 | 507 | | or a petition for termination of parental rights pending 338 |
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508 | 508 | | adoption, executed and Filed an affidavit or a verified response 339 |
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509 | 509 | | with the court in that proceeding stating that he is personally 340 |
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510 | 510 | | fully able and willing to take responsibility for the child, 341 |
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511 | 511 | | setting forth his plans for care of the child, and agreeing to a 342 |
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512 | 512 | | court order of child support and a contribution to the payment 343 |
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513 | 513 | | of living and medical expenses incurred for the mother's 344 |
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514 | 514 | | pregnancy and the child's birth in accordance with his ability 345 |
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515 | 515 | | to pay. 346 |
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516 | 516 | | 3. If he had knowledge of the pregnancy, Paid a fair and 347 |
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517 | 517 | | reasonable amount of the living and medical expenses for the 348 |
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518 | 518 | | birth mother and the child incurred in connection w ith the 349 |
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519 | 519 | | mother's pregnancy and the child's birth , in accordance with the 350 |
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528 | 528 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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529 | 529 | | |
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530 | 530 | | |
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531 | 531 | | |
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532 | 532 | | unmarried biological father's his financial ability and when not 351 |
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533 | 533 | | prevented from doing so by the birth mother or person or 352 |
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534 | 534 | | authorized agency having lawful custody of the child. The 353 |
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535 | 535 | | responsibility of the unmarried biological father to provide 354 |
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536 | 536 | | financial assistance to the birth mother during her pregnancy 355 |
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537 | 537 | | and to the child after birth is not abated because support is 356 |
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538 | 538 | | being provided to the birth mother or child by the adoption 357 |
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539 | 539 | | entity, a prospective adoptive parent, or a third party, nor 358 |
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540 | 540 | | does it serve as a basis to excuse the birth father's failure to 359 |
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541 | 541 | | provide support. 360 |
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542 | 542 | | 361 |
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543 | 543 | | Offers of support are insufficient to meet the requirements of 362 |
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544 | 544 | | this subsection. 363 |
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545 | 545 | | (c) The mere fact that a father expresses a d esire to 364 |
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546 | 546 | | fulfill his responsibilities towards his child which is 365 |
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547 | 547 | | unsupported by acts evidencing this intent does not meet the 366 |
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548 | 548 | | requirements of this subsection section. An unmarried biological 367 |
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549 | 549 | | father who does not strictly comply with each of the conditions 368 |
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550 | 550 | | provided in this subsection is not considered a "parent" under 369 |
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551 | 551 | | this chapter and the court shall enter a judgment finding that 370 |
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552 | 552 | | the unmarried biological father has waived and surrendered any 371 |
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553 | 553 | | rights in relation to the child, including the right to notice 372 |
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554 | 554 | | of any judicial proceeding in connection with the adoption of 373 |
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555 | 555 | | the child, and his consent to the adoption of the child is not 374 |
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556 | 556 | | required and any claim he may have had to the child is barred. 375 |
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565 | 565 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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566 | 566 | | |
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567 | 567 | | |
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568 | 568 | | |
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569 | 569 | | Upon the entry of the court order, the adoption entity has no 376 |
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570 | 570 | | further duties under this chapter with regard to the unmarried 377 |
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571 | 571 | | biological father. 378 |
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572 | 572 | | (d) The petitioner shall file with the court a certificate 379 |
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573 | 573 | | from the Office of Vital Statistics stating that a diligent 380 |
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574 | 574 | | search has been made of the Florida Putative Father Registry of 381 |
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575 | 575 | | notices from unmarried biological fathers described in 382 |
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576 | 576 | | subparagraph (b)1. and that no filing has been found pertaining 383 |
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577 | 577 | | to the father of the child in question or, if a filing is found, 384 |
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578 | 578 | | stating the name of the putative father and the time and date of 385 |
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579 | 579 | | filing. That certificate shall be filed with the court prior to 386 |
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580 | 580 | | the entry of a final judgment of termination of parental rights. 387 |
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581 | 581 | | (e) An unmarried biological father who does not comply 388 |
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582 | 582 | | with each of the conditions provided in this subsection is 389 |
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583 | 583 | | deemed to have waived and surrendered any rights in relation to 390 |
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584 | 584 | | the child, including the right to notice of any judicial 391 |
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585 | 585 | | proceeding in connection with the adoption of the child, and his 392 |
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586 | 586 | | consent to the adoption of the child is not required. 393 |
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587 | 587 | | (3) Pursuant to chapter 48, an a doption entity shall serve 394 |
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588 | 588 | | a notice of intended adoption plan upon any known and locatable 395 |
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589 | 589 | | unmarried biological father who is identified to the adoption 396 |
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590 | 590 | | entity by the mother by the date she signs her consent for 397 |
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591 | 591 | | adoption if the child is 6 months of age or less at the time the 398 |
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592 | 592 | | consent is executed. Service of the notice of intended adoption 399 |
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593 | 593 | | plan is not required when the unmarried biological father signs 400 |
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602 | 602 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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603 | 603 | | |
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604 | 604 | | |
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605 | 605 | | |
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606 | 606 | | a consent for adoption or an affidavit of nonpaternity or when 401 |
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607 | 607 | | the child is more than 6 months of age at th e time of the 402 |
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608 | 608 | | execution of the consent by the mother. The notice may be served 403 |
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609 | 609 | | at any time before the child's birth or after the child's birth 404 |
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610 | 610 | | only if the mother identifies him to the adoption entity as a 405 |
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611 | 611 | | potential biological father by the date she execute s a consent 406 |
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612 | 612 | | for adoption before placing the child in the adoptive home. The 407 |
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613 | 613 | | recipient of the notice may waive service of process by 408 |
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614 | 614 | | executing a waiver and acknowledging receipt of the plan. 409 |
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615 | 615 | | (a) The notice of intended adoption plan must specifically 410 |
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616 | 616 | | state that if the unmarried biological father desires to contest 411 |
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617 | 617 | | the adoption plan he must, within 30 days after service, file 412 |
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618 | 618 | | with the court a verified response that contains a pledge of 413 |
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619 | 619 | | commitment to the child in substantial compliance with 414 |
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620 | 620 | | subparagraph (2)(b)2., file and a claim of paternity form with 415 |
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621 | 621 | | the Office of Vital Statistics, and must provide to the adoption 416 |
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622 | 622 | | entity a fair and reasonable amount of support for the benefit 417 |
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623 | 623 | | of the birth mother and child with a copy of the verified 418 |
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624 | 624 | | response filed with the court and the claim of paternity form 419 |
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625 | 625 | | filed with the Office of Vital Statistics . 420 |
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626 | 626 | | (b) The notice must also include instructions for 421 |
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627 | 627 | | submitting a claim of paternity form to the Office of Vital 422 |
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628 | 628 | | Statistics and the address to which the claim must be sent. 423 |
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629 | 629 | | (c) The unmarried biological father must provide the 424 |
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630 | 630 | | adoption entity with a copy of the verified response filed with 425 |
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639 | 639 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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640 | 640 | | |
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641 | 641 | | |
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642 | 642 | | |
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643 | 643 | | the court and the claim of paternity form filed with the Office 426 |
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644 | 644 | | of Vital Statistics If the party served with the notice of 427 |
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645 | 645 | | intended adoption plan is an entity whose consent is required, 428 |
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646 | 646 | | the notice must specifically state that the entity must file, 429 |
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647 | 647 | | within 30 days after service, a verified response setting forth 430 |
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648 | 648 | | a legal basis for contesting the intended adoption plan, 431 |
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649 | 649 | | specifically addressing the best interests of the child . 432 |
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650 | 650 | | (a) If the unmarried biological father or entity whose 433 |
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651 | 651 | | consent is required fails to timely and properly file a verified 434 |
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652 | 652 | | response with the court and, in the case of an unmarried 435 |
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653 | 653 | | biological father, a claim of paternity form wi th the Office of 436 |
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654 | 654 | | Vital Statistics, the court shall enter a default judgment 437 |
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655 | 655 | | against the unmarried biological father or entity and the 438 |
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656 | 656 | | consent of that unmarried biological father or entity shall no 439 |
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657 | 657 | | longer be required under this chapter and shall be deemed t o 440 |
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658 | 658 | | have waived any claim of rights to the child. To avoid an entry 441 |
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659 | 659 | | of a default judgment, within 30 days after receipt of service 442 |
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660 | 660 | | of the notice of intended adoption plan: 443 |
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661 | 661 | | 1. The unmarried biological father must: 444 |
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662 | 662 | | a. File a claim of paternity with the Flo rida Putative 445 |
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663 | 663 | | Father Registry maintained by the Office of Vital Statistics; 446 |
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664 | 664 | | b. File a verified response with the court which contains 447 |
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665 | 665 | | a pledge of commitment to the child in substantial compliance 448 |
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666 | 666 | | with subparagraph (2)(b)2.; and 449 |
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667 | 667 | | c. Provide support for t he birth mother and the child. 450 |
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676 | 676 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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677 | 677 | | |
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678 | 678 | | |
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679 | 679 | | |
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680 | 680 | | 2. The entity whose consent is required must file a 451 |
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681 | 681 | | verified response setting forth a legal basis for contesting the 452 |
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682 | 682 | | intended adoption plan, specifically addressing the best 453 |
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683 | 683 | | interests of the child. 454 |
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684 | 684 | | (4)(b) If the mother identifies a potential unmarried 455 |
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685 | 685 | | biological father within the timeframes required by this section 456 |
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686 | 686 | | the statute, whose location is unknown, the adoption entity must 457 |
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687 | 687 | | shall conduct a diligent search under pursuant to s. 63.088. If, 458 |
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688 | 688 | | upon completion of a diligent search, the potential unmarried 459 |
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689 | 689 | | biological father's location remains unknown and a search of the 460 |
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690 | 690 | | Florida Putative Father Registry fails to reveal a match, the 461 |
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691 | 691 | | adoption entity must shall request in the petition for 462 |
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692 | 692 | | termination of parental rights pending ado ption that the court 463 |
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693 | 693 | | declare the diligent search to be in compliance with s. 63.088, 464 |
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694 | 694 | | that the adoption entity has no further obligation to provide 465 |
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695 | 695 | | notice to the potential unmarried biological father, and that 466 |
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696 | 696 | | the potential unmarried biological father's con sent to the 467 |
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697 | 697 | | adoption is not required. 468 |
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698 | 698 | | (5)(4) Any person whose consent is required under 469 |
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699 | 699 | | paragraph (1)(b), or any other man, may execute an irrevocable 470 |
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700 | 700 | | affidavit of nonpaternity in lieu of a consent under this 471 |
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701 | 701 | | section and by doing so waives notice to all court proceedings 472 |
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702 | 702 | | after the date of execution. An affidavit of nonpaternity must 473 |
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703 | 703 | | be executed as provided in s. 63.082. The affidavit of 474 |
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704 | 704 | | nonpaternity may be executed before prior to the birth of the 475 |
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705 | 705 | | |
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713 | 713 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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714 | 714 | | |
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715 | 715 | | |
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716 | 716 | | |
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717 | 717 | | child. The person executing the affidavit must receive 476 |
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718 | 718 | | disclosure under s. 63.085 before prior to signing the 477 |
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719 | 719 | | affidavit. For purposes of this chapter, an affidavit of 478 |
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720 | 720 | | nonpaternity is sufficient if it contains a specific denial of 479 |
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721 | 721 | | parental obligations and does not need to deny the existence of 480 |
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722 | 722 | | a biological relatio nship. 481 |
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723 | 723 | | (6)(5) A person who signs a consent to adoption or an 482 |
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724 | 724 | | affidavit of nonpaternity must be given reasonable notice of his 483 |
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725 | 725 | | or her right to select a person who does not have an employment, 484 |
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726 | 726 | | professional, or personal relationship with the adoption entity 485 |
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727 | 727 | | or the prospective adoptive parents to be present when the 486 |
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728 | 728 | | consent to adoption or affidavit of nonpaternity is executed and 487 |
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729 | 729 | | to sign the consent or affidavit as a witness. 488 |
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730 | 730 | | (7)(6) The petitioner must make good faith and diligent 489 |
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731 | 731 | | efforts as provided under s. 63.088 to notify, and obtain 490 |
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732 | 732 | | written consent from, the persons required to consent to 491 |
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733 | 733 | | adoption under this section. The petitioner shall file with the 492 |
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734 | 734 | | court a certificate from the Office of Vital Statistics stating 493 |
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735 | 735 | | that a diligent search has been made of the Florida Putative 494 |
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736 | 736 | | Father Registry of notices from unmarried biological fathers 495 |
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737 | 737 | | described in subparagraph (2)(b)1. and that no filing has been 496 |
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738 | 738 | | found pertaining to the father of the child in question or, if a 497 |
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739 | 739 | | filing is found, stating the name of the puta tive father and the 498 |
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740 | 740 | | time and date of filing. That certificate must be filed with the 499 |
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741 | 741 | | court before the entry of a final judgment of termination of 500 |
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750 | 750 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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751 | 751 | | |
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752 | 752 | | |
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753 | 753 | | |
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754 | 754 | | parental rights. 501 |
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755 | 755 | | (8)(7) If parental rights to the child minor have 502 |
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756 | 756 | | previously been terminated, the adoption entity with which the 503 |
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757 | 757 | | child minor has been placed for subsequent adoption may provide 504 |
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758 | 758 | | consent to the adoption. In such case, no other consent is 505 |
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759 | 759 | | required. The consent of the department is shall be waived upon 506 |
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760 | 760 | | a determination by the court that such consent is being 507 |
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761 | 761 | | unreasonably withheld and if the petitioner has filed with the 508 |
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762 | 762 | | court a favorable preliminary adoptive home study as required 509 |
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763 | 763 | | under s. 63.092. 510 |
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764 | 764 | | (9)(8) A petition to adopt an adult may be granted if: 511 |
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765 | 765 | | (a) Written consent to adoption has been execu ted by the 512 |
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766 | 766 | | adult and the adult's spouse, if any, unless the spouse's 513 |
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767 | 767 | | consent is waived by the court for good cause. 514 |
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768 | 768 | | (b) Written notice of the final hearing on the adoption 515 |
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769 | 769 | | has been provided to the parents, if any, by certified mail, or 516 |
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770 | 770 | | proof of service of process, or written waiver has been filed, 517 |
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771 | 771 | | showing notice has been served on the parents as provided in 518 |
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772 | 772 | | this chapter. 519 |
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773 | 773 | | (10)(a)(9) A petition for termination of parental rights 520 |
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774 | 774 | | must be filed in the appropriate county as determined under s. 521 |
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775 | 775 | | 63.087(2). If a parent whose consent is required objects to 522 |
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776 | 776 | | venue in the county where the action was filed, the court may 523 |
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777 | 777 | | transfer venue to a pro per venue consistent with this chapter 524 |
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778 | 778 | | and chapter 47 unless the objecting parent has previously 525 |
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787 | 787 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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788 | 788 | | |
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789 | 789 | | |
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790 | 790 | | |
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791 | 791 | | executed a waiver of venue. 526 |
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792 | 792 | | (b)(10) The waiver of venue must be a separate document 527 |
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793 | 793 | | containing no consents, disclosures, or other information 528 |
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794 | 794 | | unrelated to venue. 529 |
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795 | 795 | | (11) This section does not preclude a claim for prebirth 530 |
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796 | 796 | | abandonment under ss. 63.032 and 63.089. 531 |
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797 | 797 | | Section 6. Subsection (2), paragraph (a) of subsection 532 |
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798 | 798 | | (3), paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of subsection (4), paragraphs 533 |
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799 | 799 | | (a), (b), and (e) of subsect ion (6) and subsection (7) of 534 |
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800 | 800 | | section 63.082, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 535 |
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801 | 801 | | 63.082 Execution of consent to adoption or affidavit of 536 |
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802 | 802 | | nonpaternity; family social and medical history; revocation of 537 |
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803 | 803 | | consent.— 538 |
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804 | 804 | | (2) A consent may name or otherwise id entify a specific 539 |
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805 | 805 | | adopting parent. A consent that does not name or otherwise 540 |
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806 | 806 | | identify the adopting parent is valid if the consent contains a 541 |
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807 | 807 | | statement by the person consenting that the consent was 542 |
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808 | 808 | | voluntarily executed and that identification of the adoptin g 543 |
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809 | 809 | | parent is not required for granting the consent. 544 |
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810 | 810 | | (3)(a) The department must provide a family social and 545 |
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811 | 811 | | medical history form to an adoption entity that intends to place 546 |
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812 | 812 | | a child for adoption. Forms containing, at a minimum, the same 547 |
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813 | 813 | | information as the f orms promulgated by the department must be 548 |
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814 | 814 | | attached to the petition to terminate parental rights pending 549 |
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815 | 815 | | adoption and must contain biological and sociological 550 |
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816 | 816 | | |
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824 | 824 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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825 | 825 | | |
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826 | 826 | | |
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827 | 827 | | |
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828 | 828 | | information or information as to the family medical history 551 |
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829 | 829 | | regarding the child minor and the parents. This form is not 552 |
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830 | 830 | | required for adoptions of relatives, adult adoptions, or 553 |
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831 | 831 | | adoptions of stepchildren, unless parental rights are being or 554 |
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832 | 832 | | were terminated under pursuant to chapter 39. The information 555 |
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833 | 833 | | must be filed with the court in the termination of parental 556 |
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834 | 834 | | rights proceeding. 557 |
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835 | 835 | | (4)(a) An affidavit of nonpaternity may be executed before 558 |
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836 | 836 | | the birth of the child minor; however, the consent to an 559 |
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837 | 837 | | adoption may not be executed before the birth of the child minor 560 |
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838 | 838 | | except in a preplanned adoption under pursuant to s. 63.213. 561 |
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839 | 839 | | (b) A consent to the adoption of a child minor who is to 562 |
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840 | 840 | | be placed for adoption may be executed by the birth mother 48 563 |
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841 | 841 | | hours after the child's minor's birth or the day the birth 564 |
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842 | 842 | | mother is notified in writing, either on her patient chart o r in 565 |
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843 | 843 | | release paperwork, that she is fit to be released from the 566 |
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844 | 844 | | licensed hospital or birth center, whichever is earlier. A 567 |
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845 | 845 | | consent by any man may be executed at any time after the birth 568 |
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846 | 846 | | of the child. The consent is valid upon execution and may be 569 |
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847 | 847 | | withdrawn only if the court finds that it was obtained by fraud 570 |
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848 | 848 | | or duress. 571 |
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849 | 849 | | (c) If the child minor to be adopted is older than 6 572 |
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850 | 850 | | months of age at the time of the execution of the consent, the 573 |
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851 | 851 | | consent to adoption is valid upon execution; however, it is 574 |
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852 | 852 | | subject to a revocation period of 3 business days. 575 |
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861 | 861 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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862 | 862 | | |
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863 | 863 | | |
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864 | 864 | | |
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865 | 865 | | (6)(a) If a parent executes an identified consent or a 576 |
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866 | 866 | | nonidentified consent for adoption of a minor with an adoption 577 |
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867 | 867 | | entity or qualified prospective adoptive parents and the minor 578 |
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868 | 868 | | child is under the supervision of the department, or otherwise 579 |
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869 | 869 | | subject to the jurisdiction of the dependency court as a result 580 |
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870 | 870 | | of the entry of a shelter order, a dependency petition, or a 581 |
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871 | 871 | | petition for termination of parental rights pursuant to chapter 582 |
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872 | 872 | | 39, but parental rights have not yet b een terminated, the 583 |
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873 | 873 | | adoption consent is valid, binding, and enforceable by the 584 |
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874 | 874 | | court. 585 |
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875 | 875 | | (b) Upon execution of the consent of the parent and filing 586 |
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876 | 876 | | of the preliminary home study as required in s. 63.092(3) , the 587 |
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877 | 877 | | adoption entity shall be permitted to interven e in the 588 |
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878 | 878 | | dependency case as a party of in interest and must provide the 589 |
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879 | 879 | | court that acquired jurisdiction over the minor, pursuant to the 590 |
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880 | 880 | | shelter order or dependency petition filed by the department, a 591 |
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881 | 881 | | copy of the preliminary home study of the prospective a doptive 592 |
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882 | 882 | | parents and any other evidence of the suitability of the 593 |
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883 | 883 | | placement. The preliminary home study must be maintained with 594 |
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884 | 884 | | strictest confidentiality within the dependency court file and 595 |
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885 | 885 | | the department's file. A preliminary home study must be provided 596 |
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886 | 886 | | to the court in all cases in which an adoption entity has 597 |
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887 | 887 | | intervened pursuant to this section. Unless the court has 598 |
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888 | 888 | | concerns regarding the qualifications of the home study 599 |
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889 | 889 | | provider, or concerns that the home study may not be adequate to 600 |
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890 | 890 | | |
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898 | 898 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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899 | 899 | | |
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900 | 900 | | |
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901 | 901 | | |
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902 | 902 | | determine the best i nterests of the child, the home study 601 |
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903 | 903 | | provided by the adoption entity shall be deemed to be sufficient 602 |
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904 | 904 | | and no additional home study needs to be performed by the 603 |
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905 | 905 | | department. 604 |
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906 | 906 | | (e) In determining whether the best interests of the child 605 |
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907 | 907 | | are served by transfer ring the custody of the minor child to the 606 |
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908 | 908 | | prospective adoptive parent selected by the parent or adoption 607 |
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909 | 909 | | entity, the court shall consider and weigh all relevant factors, 608 |
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910 | 910 | | including, but not limited to all of the following : 609 |
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911 | 911 | | 1. The permanency offered .; 610 |
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912 | 912 | | 2. The established bonded relationship between the child 611 |
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913 | 913 | | and the current caregiver in any potential adoptive home in 612 |
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914 | 914 | | which the child has been residing .; 613 |
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915 | 915 | | 3. The stability of the potential adoptive home in which 614 |
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916 | 916 | | the child has been residing as well as the de sirability of 615 |
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917 | 917 | | maintaining continuity of placement .; 616 |
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918 | 918 | | 4. The importance of maintaining sibling relationships, if 617 |
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919 | 919 | | possible.; 618 |
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920 | 920 | | 5. The reasonable preferences and wishes of the child, if 619 |
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921 | 921 | | the court deems the child to be of sufficient maturity, 620 |
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922 | 922 | | understanding, and experience to express a preference .; 621 |
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923 | 923 | | 6. Whether a petition for termination of parental rights 622 |
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924 | 924 | | has been filed pursuant to s. 39.806(1)(f), (g), or (h) .; 623 |
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925 | 925 | | 7. The child's particular needs and development. What is 624 |
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926 | 926 | | best for the child; and 625 |
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927 | 927 | | |
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930 | 930 | | |
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935 | 935 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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936 | 936 | | |
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937 | 937 | | |
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938 | 938 | | |
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939 | 939 | | 8. The right of the parent to determine an appropriate 626 |
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940 | 940 | | placement for the child. 627 |
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941 | 941 | | (7) If a person is seeking to revoke consent for a child 628 |
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942 | 942 | | older than 6 months of age: 629 |
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943 | 943 | | (a) The person seeking to revoke consent must, in 630 |
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944 | 944 | | accordance with paragraph (4)(c), notify the adopti on entity, or 631 |
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945 | 945 | | if there is not an adoption entity, the adoptive parent's 632 |
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946 | 946 | | attorney, or the adoptive parents if they are unrepresented, in 633 |
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947 | 947 | | writing by certified mail, return receipt requested, within 3 634 |
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948 | 948 | | business days after execution of the consent. As used in t his 635 |
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949 | 949 | | subsection, the term "business day" means any day on which the 636 |
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950 | 950 | | United States Postal Service accepts certified mail for 637 |
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951 | 951 | | delivery. 638 |
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952 | 952 | | (b) Upon receiving timely written notice from a person 639 |
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953 | 953 | | whose consent to adoption is required of that person's desire to 640 |
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954 | 954 | | revoke consent, the adoption entity must contact the prospective 641 |
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955 | 955 | | adoptive parent to arrange a time certain for the adoption 642 |
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956 | 956 | | entity to regain physical custody of the child minor, unless, 643 |
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957 | 957 | | upon a motion for emergency hearing by the adoption entity, the 644 |
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958 | 958 | | court determines in written findings that placement of the child 645 |
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959 | 959 | | minor with the person who had legal or physical custody of the 646 |
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960 | 960 | | child immediately before the child was placed for adoption may 647 |
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961 | 961 | | endanger the child minor or that the person who desires to 648 |
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962 | 962 | | revoke consent is not required to consent to the adoption, has 649 |
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963 | 963 | | been determined to have abandoned the child, or is otherwise 650 |
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964 | 964 | | |
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966 | 966 | | |
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967 | 967 | | |
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972 | 972 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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973 | 973 | | |
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974 | 974 | | |
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975 | 975 | | |
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976 | 976 | | subject to a determination that the person's consent is waived 651 |
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977 | 977 | | under this chapter. 652 |
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978 | 978 | | (c) If the court finds that the placement of the child 653 |
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979 | 979 | | with the person who had legal or physical custody of the child 654 |
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980 | 980 | | immediately before the child was placed for adoption may 655 |
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981 | 981 | | endanger the child minor, the court must shall enter an order 656 |
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982 | 982 | | continuing the placement of the child minor with the prospective 657 |
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983 | 983 | | adoptive parents pending further proceedings if they desire 658 |
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984 | 984 | | continued placement. If the prospective adoptive parents do not 659 |
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985 | 985 | | desire continued placement, the order must include, but is need 660 |
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986 | 986 | | not be limited to, a determination of whether temporary 661 |
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987 | 987 | | placement in foster care, with the person who had legal or 662 |
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988 | 988 | | physical custody of the child immediately before placing the 663 |
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989 | 989 | | child for adoption, or with a relative is in the best interests 664 |
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990 | 990 | | of the child and whether an investigation by the department is 665 |
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991 | 991 | | recommended. 666 |
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992 | 992 | | (d) If the person re voking consent claims to be the father 667 |
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993 | 993 | | of the child minor but has not been established to be the father 668 |
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994 | 994 | | by marriage, court order, or scientific testing, the court may 669 |
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995 | 995 | | order scientific paternity testing and reserve ruling on removal 670 |
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996 | 996 | | of the child minor until the results of such testing have been 671 |
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997 | 997 | | filed with the court. 672 |
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998 | 998 | | (e) The adoption entity must return the child minor within 673 |
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999 | 999 | | 3 business days after timely and proper notification of the 674 |
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1000 | 1000 | | revocation of consent or after the court determines that 675 |
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1001 | 1001 | | |
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1009 | 1009 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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1010 | 1010 | | |
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1011 | 1011 | | |
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1012 | 1012 | | |
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1013 | 1013 | | revocation is timely and in accordance with the requirements of 676 |
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1014 | 1014 | | this chapter upon consideration of an emergency motion, as filed 677 |
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1015 | 1015 | | pursuant to paragraph (b), to the physical custody of the person 678 |
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1016 | 1016 | | revoking consent or the person directed by the court. If the 679 |
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1017 | 1017 | | person seeking to revoke consent claims to be the father of the 680 |
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1018 | 1018 | | child minor but has not been established to be the father by 681 |
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1019 | 1019 | | marriage, court order, or scientific testing, the adoption 682 |
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1020 | 1020 | | entity may return the child minor to the care and custody of the 683 |
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1021 | 1021 | | mother, if she desires su ch placement and she is not otherwise 684 |
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1022 | 1022 | | prohibited by law from having custody of the child. 685 |
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1023 | 1023 | | (f) Following the revocation period described in paragraph 686 |
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1024 | 1024 | | (a), consent may be set aside only when the court finds that the 687 |
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1025 | 1025 | | consent was obtained by fraud or duress. 688 |
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1026 | 1026 | | (g) An affidavit of nonpaternity may be set aside only if 689 |
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1027 | 1027 | | the court finds that the affidavit was obtained by fraud or 690 |
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1028 | 1028 | | duress. 691 |
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1029 | 1029 | | (h) If the consent of one parent is set aside or revoked 692 |
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1030 | 1030 | | in accordance with this chapter, or if a petition to terminate 693 |
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1031 | 1031 | | parental rights is denied, any other consents executed by the 694 |
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1032 | 1032 | | other parent or a third party whose consent is required for the 695 |
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1033 | 1033 | | adoption of the child may not be used by the parent whose 696 |
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1034 | 1034 | | consent was revoked or set aside to terminate or diminish the 697 |
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1035 | 1035 | | rights of the other parent or third party whose consent was 698 |
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1036 | 1036 | | required for the adoption of the child. An identified or 699 |
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1037 | 1037 | | nonidentified consent executed under s. 63.083 may not be 700 |
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1038 | 1038 | | |
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1046 | 1046 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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1047 | 1047 | | |
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1048 | 1048 | | |
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1049 | 1049 | | |
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1050 | 1050 | | treated as a surrender of parental rights to the department or 701 |
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1051 | 1051 | | the court in a dependency pr oceeding without the express written 702 |
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1052 | 1052 | | consent of that parent. 703 |
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1053 | 1053 | | Section 7. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 63.085, 704 |
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1054 | 1054 | | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 705 |
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1055 | 1055 | | 63.085 Disclosure by adoption entity. — 706 |
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1056 | 1056 | | (1) DISCLOSURE REQUIRED TO PARENTS AND PROSPECTIVE 707 |
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1057 | 1057 | | ADOPTIVE PARENTS.—Within 14 days after a person seeking to adopt 708 |
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1058 | 1058 | | a child minor or a person seeking to place a child minor for 709 |
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1059 | 1059 | | adoption contacts an adoption entity in person or provides the 710 |
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1060 | 1060 | | adoption entity with a mailing address, the entity must provide 711 |
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1061 | 1061 | | a written disclosure statement to that person if the entity 712 |
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1062 | 1062 | | agrees or continues to work with the person. For purposes of 713 |
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1063 | 1063 | | providing the written disclosure, a person is considered to be 714 |
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1064 | 1064 | | seeking to place a child for adoption if that person has sought 715 |
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1065 | 1065 | | information or advice from the adoption entity regarding the 716 |
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1066 | 1066 | | option of adoptive placement. If the adoption entity agrees or 717 |
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1067 | 1067 | | continues to work with the person, the adoption entity must 718 |
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1068 | 1068 | | shall also provide the written disclosure to the person parent 719 |
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1069 | 1069 | | who did not initiate con tact with the adoption entity within 14 720 |
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1070 | 1070 | | days after such person that parent is identified and located. 721 |
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1071 | 1071 | | For purposes of providing the written disclosure, a person is 722 |
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1072 | 1072 | | considered to be seeking to place a minor for adoption if that 723 |
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1073 | 1073 | | person has sought information or advice from the adoption entity 724 |
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1074 | 1074 | | regarding the option of adoptive placement. The written 725 |
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1075 | 1075 | | |
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1083 | 1083 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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1084 | 1084 | | |
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1085 | 1085 | | |
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1086 | 1086 | | |
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1087 | 1087 | | disclosure statement must be in substantially the following 726 |
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1088 | 1088 | | form: 727 |
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1089 | 1089 | | ADOPTION DISCLOSURE 728 |
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1090 | 1090 | | THE STATE OF FLORIDA REQUIRES THAT THIS FORM BE PROVIDED TO ALL 729 |
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1091 | 1091 | | PERSONS CONSIDERING ADOPTING A CHILD MINOR OR SEEKING TO PLACE A 730 |
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1092 | 1092 | | CHILD MINOR FOR ADOPTION, TO ADVISE THEM OF THE FOLLOWING FACTS 731 |
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1093 | 1093 | | REGARDING ADOPTION UNDER FLORIDA LAW: 732 |
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1094 | 1094 | | 1. The name, address, and telephone number of the adoption 733 |
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1095 | 1095 | | entity providing this disclosure is: 734 |
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1096 | 1096 | | Name: ................................ .................... 735 |
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1097 | 1097 | | Address: ................................ ................. 736 |
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1098 | 1098 | | Telephone Number: ................................ ......... 737 |
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1099 | 1099 | | 2. The adoption entity does not provide legal 738 |
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1100 | 1100 | | representation or advice to parents or anyone signing a 739 |
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1101 | 1101 | | consent for adoption or affidavit of nonpaternity, and 740 |
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1102 | 1102 | | parents have the right to consult with an attorney of their 741 |
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1103 | 1103 | | own choosing to advise them. 742 |
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1104 | 1104 | | 3. With the exception of an adoption by a stepparent or 743 |
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1105 | 1105 | | relative, a child cannot be placed into a prospective 744 |
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1106 | 1106 | | adoptive home unless the prospective adoptive parents have 745 |
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1107 | 1107 | | received a favorable preliminary home study, including 746 |
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1108 | 1108 | | criminal and child abuse clearances. 747 |
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1109 | 1109 | | 4. A valid consent for adoption may not be signed by the 748 |
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1110 | 1110 | | birth mother until 48 hours after the birth of the child, 749 |
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1111 | 1111 | | or the day the birth mother is notified, in writing, that 750 |
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1112 | 1112 | | |
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1120 | 1120 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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1121 | 1121 | | |
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1122 | 1122 | | |
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1123 | 1123 | | |
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1124 | 1124 | | she is fit for discharge from the licensed hospi tal or 751 |
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1125 | 1125 | | birth center. Any man may sign a valid consent for adoption 752 |
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1126 | 1126 | | at any time after the birth of the child. 753 |
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1127 | 1127 | | 5. A consent for adoption signed when before the child is 754 |
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1128 | 1128 | | attains the age of 6 months of age or younger is binding 755 |
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1129 | 1129 | | and irrevocable from the momen t it is signed unless it can 756 |
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1130 | 1130 | | be proven in court that the consent was obtained by fraud 757 |
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1131 | 1131 | | or duress. A consent for adoption signed after the child 758 |
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1132 | 1132 | | attains the age of 6 months is valid from the moment it is 759 |
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1133 | 1133 | | signed; however, it may be revoked up to 3 business d ays 760 |
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1134 | 1134 | | after it was signed. 761 |
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1135 | 1135 | | 6. A consent for adoption is not valid if the signature of 762 |
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1136 | 1136 | | the person who signed the consent was obtained by fraud or 763 |
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1137 | 1137 | | duress. 764 |
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1138 | 1138 | | 7. An unmarried biological father must act immediately in 765 |
---|
1139 | 1139 | | order to protect his parental rights. Secti on 63.062, 766 |
---|
1140 | 1140 | | Florida Statutes, prescribes that any father seeking to 767 |
---|
1141 | 1141 | | establish his right to consent to the adoption of his child 768 |
---|
1142 | 1142 | | must file a claim of paternity with the Florida Putative 769 |
---|
1143 | 1143 | | Father Registry maintained by the Office of Vital 770 |
---|
1144 | 1144 | | Statistics of the Depa rtment of Health before by the date a 771 |
---|
1145 | 1145 | | petition to terminate parental rights is filed with the 772 |
---|
1146 | 1146 | | court, or within 30 days after receiving service of a 773 |
---|
1147 | 1147 | | Notice of Intended Adoption Plan. If he receives a Notice 774 |
---|
1148 | 1148 | | of Intended Adoption Plan, he must file a claim of 775 |
---|
1149 | 1149 | | |
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1150 | 1150 | | HB 1099 2023 |
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1152 | 1152 | | |
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1157 | 1157 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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1158 | 1158 | | |
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1159 | 1159 | | |
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1160 | 1160 | | |
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1161 | 1161 | | paternity with the Florida Putative Father Registry, file a 776 |
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1162 | 1162 | | parenting plan with the court, and provide financial 777 |
---|
1163 | 1163 | | support to the mother or child within 30 days after 778 |
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1164 | 1164 | | following service. An unmarried biological father's failure 779 |
---|
1165 | 1165 | | to timely respond to a Notice of Intended Adoption Plan 780 |
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1166 | 1166 | | constitutes an irrevocable legal waiver of any and all 781 |
---|
1167 | 1167 | | rights that the father may have to the child. A claim of 782 |
---|
1168 | 1168 | | paternity registration form for the F lorida Putative Father 783 |
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1169 | 1169 | | Registry may be obtained from any local office of the 784 |
---|
1170 | 1170 | | Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics, the 785 |
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1171 | 1171 | | Department of Children and Families, the Internet websites 786 |
---|
1172 | 1172 | | for these agencies, and the offices of the clerks of the 787 |
---|
1173 | 1173 | | Florida circuit courts. The claim of paternity form must be 788 |
---|
1174 | 1174 | | submitted to the Office of Vital Statistics, Attention: 789 |
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1175 | 1175 | | Adoption Unit, P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231. 790 |
---|
1176 | 1176 | | 8. There are alternatives to adoption, including foster 791 |
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1177 | 1177 | | care, relative care, and parenting the child. There may be 792 |
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1178 | 1178 | | services and sources of financial assistance in the 793 |
---|
1179 | 1179 | | community available to parents if they choose to parent the 794 |
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1180 | 1180 | | child. 795 |
---|
1181 | 1181 | | 9. A parent has the right to have a witness of his or her 796 |
---|
1182 | 1182 | | choice, who is unconnected with the adoption entity or t he 797 |
---|
1183 | 1183 | | adoptive parents, to be present and witness the signing of 798 |
---|
1184 | 1184 | | the consent or affidavit of nonpaternity. 799 |
---|
1185 | 1185 | | 10. A parent 14 years of age or younger must have a 800 |
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1186 | 1186 | | |
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1187 | 1187 | | HB 1099 2023 |
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1188 | 1188 | | |
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1194 | 1194 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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1195 | 1195 | | |
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1196 | 1196 | | |
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1197 | 1197 | | |
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1198 | 1198 | | parent, legal guardian, or court -appointed guardian ad 801 |
---|
1199 | 1199 | | litem to assist and advise the parent as to the adoption 802 |
---|
1200 | 1200 | | plan and to witness consent. 803 |
---|
1201 | 1201 | | 11. A parent has a right to receive supportive counseling 804 |
---|
1202 | 1202 | | from a counselor, social worker, physician, clergy, or 805 |
---|
1203 | 1203 | | attorney. 806 |
---|
1204 | 1204 | | 12. The payment of living or medical expenses by the 807 |
---|
1205 | 1205 | | prospective adoptive parents or the adoption entity before 808 |
---|
1206 | 1206 | | the birth of the child does not, in any way, obligate the 809 |
---|
1207 | 1207 | | parent to sign the consent to for adoption. 810 |
---|
1208 | 1208 | | (3) ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF DISCLOSURE. —The adoption entity must 811 |
---|
1209 | 1209 | | obtain a written statement acknowledging receipt of the 812 |
---|
1210 | 1210 | | disclosures required under this section and signed by the 813 |
---|
1211 | 1211 | | persons receiving the disclosure or, if it is not possible to 814 |
---|
1212 | 1212 | | obtain such an acknowledgment, the adoption entity must execute 815 |
---|
1213 | 1213 | | an affidavit stating why an acknowledgment could not be 816 |
---|
1214 | 1214 | | obtained. If the disclosure was delivered by certified mail, 817 |
---|
1215 | 1215 | | return receipt requested, a return receipt signed by the person 818 |
---|
1216 | 1216 | | from whom acknowledgment is required is sufficient to meet the 819 |
---|
1217 | 1217 | | requirements of this subsection. A copy of the acknowledgment of 820 |
---|
1218 | 1218 | | receipt of the disclosure must be provided to the person signing 821 |
---|
1219 | 1219 | | it. A copy of the acknowledgment or affidavit executed by the 822 |
---|
1220 | 1220 | | adoption entity in lieu of the acknowledgment must be maintained 823 |
---|
1221 | 1221 | | in the file of the adoption entity and. The original 824 |
---|
1222 | 1222 | | acknowledgment or affidavit must be filed with the court. 825 |
---|
1223 | 1223 | | |
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1224 | 1224 | | HB 1099 2023 |
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1225 | 1225 | | |
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1231 | 1231 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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1232 | 1232 | | |
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1233 | 1233 | | |
---|
1234 | 1234 | | |
---|
1235 | 1235 | | Section 8. Subsection (3) and paragraphs (b) and (e) of 826 |
---|
1236 | 1236 | | subsection (4) of section 63.087, Florida Statutes, are amended 827 |
---|
1237 | 1237 | | to read: 828 |
---|
1238 | 1238 | | 63.087 Proceeding to terminate parental rights pending 829 |
---|
1239 | 1239 | | adoption; general provisions. — 830 |
---|
1240 | 1240 | | (3) PREREQUISITE FOR ADOPTION. —A petition for adoption may 831 |
---|
1241 | 1241 | | not be filed until after the date the court enters the judgment 832 |
---|
1242 | 1242 | | terminating parental rights pending adoption. The clerk of the 833 |
---|
1243 | 1243 | | court shall issue a separate case number and maintain a separate 834 |
---|
1244 | 1244 | | court file for a petition for adoption. A petition for adoption 835 |
---|
1245 | 1245 | | may not be maintained in the same court file as the proceeding 836 |
---|
1246 | 1246 | | to terminate parental rights. Adoptions of relatives, adult 837 |
---|
1247 | 1247 | | adoptions, or adoptions of stepchildren are not required to file 838 |
---|
1248 | 1248 | | a separate termination of parental rights proceeding pending 839 |
---|
1249 | 1249 | | adoption. In such cases, the petitioner may file a joint 840 |
---|
1250 | 1250 | | petition for termination of parental rights and adoption, 841 |
---|
1251 | 1251 | | attaching all required consents, affidavits, notices, and 842 |
---|
1252 | 1252 | | acknowledgments. Unless otherw ise provided by law, this chapter 843 |
---|
1253 | 1253 | | applies to joint petitions. 844 |
---|
1254 | 1254 | | (4) PETITION.— 845 |
---|
1255 | 1255 | | (b) The petition may be filed by a parent or person having 846 |
---|
1256 | 1256 | | physical custody of the child minor. The petition may be filed 847 |
---|
1257 | 1257 | | by an adoption entity only if a parent or person havi ng physical 848 |
---|
1258 | 1258 | | or legal custody who has executed a consent to adoption under 849 |
---|
1259 | 1259 | | pursuant to s. 63.082 also consents in writing to the adoption 850 |
---|
1260 | 1260 | | |
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1261 | 1261 | | HB 1099 2023 |
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1262 | 1262 | | |
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1263 | 1263 | | |
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1268 | 1268 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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1269 | 1269 | | |
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1270 | 1270 | | |
---|
1271 | 1271 | | |
---|
1272 | 1272 | | entity filing the petition. A copy The original of such consent 851 |
---|
1273 | 1273 | | must be filed with the petition. 852 |
---|
1274 | 1274 | | (e) The petition mus t include: 853 |
---|
1275 | 1275 | | 1. The child's minor's name, gender, date of birth, and 854 |
---|
1276 | 1276 | | place of birth. The petition must contain all names by which the 855 |
---|
1277 | 1277 | | child minor is or has been known, excluding the child's minor's 856 |
---|
1278 | 1278 | | prospective adoptive name but including the child's minor's 857 |
---|
1279 | 1279 | | legal name at the time of the filing of the petition. In the 858 |
---|
1280 | 1280 | | case of an infant child whose adoptive name appears on the 859 |
---|
1281 | 1281 | | original birth certificate, the adoptive name shall not be 860 |
---|
1282 | 1282 | | included in the petition , nor shall it be included elsewhere in 861 |
---|
1283 | 1283 | | the termination of parental rights proceeding. 862 |
---|
1284 | 1284 | | 2. All information required by the Uniform Child Custody 863 |
---|
1285 | 1285 | | Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act and the Indian Child Welfare 864 |
---|
1286 | 1286 | | Act. 865 |
---|
1287 | 1287 | | 3. A statement of the grounds under s. 63.089 upon which 866 |
---|
1288 | 1288 | | the petition is based. 867 |
---|
1289 | 1289 | | 4. The name, address, and telephone number of any adoption 868 |
---|
1290 | 1290 | | entity seeking to place the child minor for adoption. 869 |
---|
1291 | 1291 | | 5. The name, address, and telephone number of the division 870 |
---|
1292 | 1292 | | of the circuit court in which the petition is to be filed. 871 |
---|
1293 | 1293 | | 6. A certification that the petitioner will comply of 872 |
---|
1294 | 1294 | | compliance with the requirements of s. 63.0425 regarding notice 873 |
---|
1295 | 1295 | | to grandparents of an impending adoption. 874 |
---|
1296 | 1296 | | 7. A copy of the original birth certificate of the child 875 |
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1297 | 1297 | | |
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1299 | 1299 | | |
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1300 | 1300 | | |
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1305 | 1305 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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1306 | 1306 | | |
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1307 | 1307 | | |
---|
1308 | 1308 | | |
---|
1309 | 1309 | | must be attached to the petition or filed with the court before 876 |
---|
1310 | 1310 | | the final hearing on the petition to terminate parental rights. 877 |
---|
1311 | 1311 | | Section 9. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and subsection 878 |
---|
1312 | 1312 | | (4) of section 63.089, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 879 |
---|
1313 | 1313 | | 63.089 Proceeding to terminate parental rights pending 880 |
---|
1314 | 1314 | | adoption; hearing; grounds; dismissal of petition; judgment. — 881 |
---|
1315 | 1315 | | (2) HEARING PREREQUISITES. —The court may hold the hearing 882 |
---|
1316 | 1316 | | only when: 883 |
---|
1317 | 1317 | | (b) For each notice and petition that must be served under 884 |
---|
1318 | 1318 | | ss. 63.087 and 63.088: 885 |
---|
1319 | 1319 | | 1. At least 20 days have elapsed since the date of 886 |
---|
1320 | 1320 | | personal service and an affidavit of service has been filed with 887 |
---|
1321 | 1321 | | the court; 888 |
---|
1322 | 1322 | | 2. At least 30 days have elapsed since the first date of 889 |
---|
1323 | 1323 | | publication of constructive service and an affidavit of service 890 |
---|
1324 | 1324 | | has been filed with the court; or 891 |
---|
1325 | 1325 | | 3. An affidavit of no npaternity, consent to for adoption, 892 |
---|
1326 | 1326 | | or other document that affirmatively waives service and notice 893 |
---|
1327 | 1327 | | of the hearing has been executed and filed with the court. 894 |
---|
1328 | 1328 | | (4) FINDING OF ABANDONMENT. —A finding of abandonment 895 |
---|
1329 | 1329 | | resulting in a termination of parental rig hts must be based upon 896 |
---|
1330 | 1330 | | clear and convincing evidence that a parent or person having 897 |
---|
1331 | 1331 | | legal custody has abandoned the child in accordance with the 898 |
---|
1332 | 1332 | | definition of abandoned contained in s. 63.032. A finding of 899 |
---|
1333 | 1333 | | abandonment may also be based upon emotional abuse ; or a failure 900 |
---|
1334 | 1334 | | |
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1335 | 1335 | | HB 1099 2023 |
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1342 | 1342 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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1343 | 1343 | | |
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1344 | 1344 | | |
---|
1345 | 1345 | | |
---|
1346 | 1346 | | refusal to provide reasonable financial support, when able, to a 901 |
---|
1347 | 1347 | | birth mother during her pregnancy or to the child after his or 902 |
---|
1348 | 1348 | | her birth; or on whether the person alleged to have abandoned 903 |
---|
1349 | 1349 | | the child, while being able, failed to establish co ntact with 904 |
---|
1350 | 1350 | | the child or accept responsibility for the child's welfare. 905 |
---|
1351 | 1351 | | (a) In making a determination of abandonment at a hearing 906 |
---|
1352 | 1352 | | for termination of parental rights under this chapter, the court 907 |
---|
1353 | 1353 | | shall consider, among other relevant factors not inconsisten t 908 |
---|
1354 | 1354 | | with this section, all of the following : 909 |
---|
1355 | 1355 | | 1. Whether the actions alleged to constitute abandonment 910 |
---|
1356 | 1356 | | demonstrate a willful disregard for the safety or welfare of the 911 |
---|
1357 | 1357 | | child or the unborn child .; 912 |
---|
1358 | 1358 | | 2. Whether the person alleged to have abandoned the child, 913 |
---|
1359 | 1359 | | while being able, failed to provide financial support .; 914 |
---|
1360 | 1360 | | 3. Whether the person alleged to have abandoned the child, 915 |
---|
1361 | 1361 | | while being able, failed to pay for medical treatment .; and 916 |
---|
1362 | 1362 | | 4. Whether the amount of support provided or medical 917 |
---|
1363 | 1363 | | expenses paid was appropriate, taking into consideration the 918 |
---|
1364 | 1364 | | needs of the child and relative means and resources available to 919 |
---|
1365 | 1365 | | the person alleged to have abandoned the child. 920 |
---|
1366 | 1366 | | (b) The child has been abandoned when the parent of a 921 |
---|
1367 | 1367 | | child is or was incarcerated on or after Oct ober 1, 2001, in a 922 |
---|
1368 | 1368 | | federal, state, or county correctional institution and: 923 |
---|
1369 | 1369 | | 1. The period of time for which the parent has been or is 924 |
---|
1370 | 1370 | | expected to be incarcerated will constitute a significant 925 |
---|
1371 | 1371 | | |
---|
1372 | 1372 | | HB 1099 2023 |
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1374 | 1374 | | |
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1379 | 1379 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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1380 | 1380 | | |
---|
1381 | 1381 | | |
---|
1382 | 1382 | | |
---|
1383 | 1383 | | portion of the child's minority. In determining whether the 926 |
---|
1384 | 1384 | | period of time is significant, the court shall consider the 927 |
---|
1385 | 1385 | | child's age and the child's need for a permanent and stable 928 |
---|
1386 | 1386 | | home. The period of time begins on the date that the parent 929 |
---|
1387 | 1387 | | enters into incarceration; 930 |
---|
1388 | 1388 | | 2. The incarcerated parent has been determined by a court 931 |
---|
1389 | 1389 | | of competent jurisdiction to be a violent career criminal as 932 |
---|
1390 | 1390 | | defined in s. 775.084, a habitual violent felony offender as 933 |
---|
1391 | 1391 | | defined in s. 775.084, convicted of child abuse as defined in s. 934 |
---|
1392 | 1392 | | 827.03, or a sexual predator as defined in s. 775.21; has bee n 935 |
---|
1393 | 1393 | | convicted of first degree or second degree murder in violation 936 |
---|
1394 | 1394 | | of s. 782.04 or a sexual battery that constitutes a capital, 937 |
---|
1395 | 1395 | | life, or first degree felony violation of s. 794.011; or has 938 |
---|
1396 | 1396 | | been convicted of a substantially similar offense in another 939 |
---|
1397 | 1397 | | jurisdiction. As used in this section, the term "substantially 940 |
---|
1398 | 1398 | | similar offense" means any offense that is substantially similar 941 |
---|
1399 | 1399 | | in elements and penalties to one of those listed in this 942 |
---|
1400 | 1400 | | subparagraph, and that is in violation of a law of any other 943 |
---|
1401 | 1401 | | jurisdiction, whether that of another state, the District of 944 |
---|
1402 | 1402 | | Columbia, the United States or any possession or territory 945 |
---|
1403 | 1403 | | thereof, or any foreign jurisdiction; or 946 |
---|
1404 | 1404 | | 3. The court determines by clear and convincing evidence 947 |
---|
1405 | 1405 | | that continuing the parental relationship with the inc arcerated 948 |
---|
1406 | 1406 | | parent would be harmful to the child and, for this reason, 949 |
---|
1407 | 1407 | | termination of the parental rights of the incarcerated parent is 950 |
---|
1408 | 1408 | | |
---|
1409 | 1409 | | HB 1099 2023 |
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1416 | 1416 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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1417 | 1417 | | |
---|
1418 | 1418 | | |
---|
1419 | 1419 | | |
---|
1420 | 1420 | | in the best interests of the child. 951 |
---|
1421 | 1421 | | Section 10. Subsection (2) of section 63.122, Florida 952 |
---|
1422 | 1422 | | Statutes, is amended to read : 953 |
---|
1423 | 1423 | | 63.122 Notice of hearing on petition. — 954 |
---|
1424 | 1424 | | (2) Notice of hearing must be given as prescribed by the 955 |
---|
1425 | 1425 | | Florida Family Law Rules of Civil Procedure, and service of 956 |
---|
1426 | 1426 | | process must be made as specified by law for civil actions. 957 |
---|
1427 | 1427 | | Section 11. Subsection (1) and paragraph (b) of subsection 958 |
---|
1428 | 1428 | | (3) of section 63.132, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 959 |
---|
1429 | 1429 | | 63.132 Affidavit of expenses and receipts. — 960 |
---|
1430 | 1430 | | (1) Before the hearing on the petition for adoption, the 961 |
---|
1431 | 1431 | | prospective adoptive parent and any adoption entity must fil e 962 |
---|
1432 | 1432 | | two copies of an affidavit under this section. 963 |
---|
1433 | 1433 | | (a) The affidavit must be signed by the adoption entity 964 |
---|
1434 | 1434 | | and the prospective adoptive parents. A copy of the affidavit 965 |
---|
1435 | 1435 | | must be provided to the adoptive parents at the time the 966 |
---|
1436 | 1436 | | affidavit is executed. 967 |
---|
1437 | 1437 | | (b) The affidavit must itemize all disbursements and 968 |
---|
1438 | 1438 | | receipts of anything of value, including professional and legal 969 |
---|
1439 | 1439 | | fees, made or agreed to be made by or on behalf of the 970 |
---|
1440 | 1440 | | prospective adoptive parent and any adoption entity in 971 |
---|
1441 | 1441 | | connection with the adoption or in connection with any prior 972 |
---|
1442 | 1442 | | proceeding to terminate parental rights which involved the child 973 |
---|
1443 | 1443 | | minor who is the subject of the petition for adoption. The 974 |
---|
1444 | 1444 | | affidavit must also include, for each hourly legal or counseling 975 |
---|
1445 | 1445 | | |
---|
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1454 | 1454 | | |
---|
1455 | 1455 | | |
---|
1456 | 1456 | | |
---|
1457 | 1457 | | fee itemized, the service provided for w hich the hourly fee is 976 |
---|
1458 | 1458 | | being charged, the date the service was provided, the time 977 |
---|
1459 | 1459 | | required to provide the service if the service was charged by 978 |
---|
1460 | 1460 | | the hour, the person or entity that provided the service, and 979 |
---|
1461 | 1461 | | the hourly fee charged. 980 |
---|
1462 | 1462 | | (c) The affidavit must s how any expenses or receipts 981 |
---|
1463 | 1463 | | incurred in connection with: 982 |
---|
1464 | 1464 | | 1. The birth of the child minor. 983 |
---|
1465 | 1465 | | 2. The placement of the child minor with the petitioner. 984 |
---|
1466 | 1466 | | 3. The medical or hospital care received by the mother or 985 |
---|
1467 | 1467 | | by the child minor during the mother's prena tal care and 986 |
---|
1468 | 1468 | | confinement. 987 |
---|
1469 | 1469 | | 4. The living expenses of the birth mother. The living 988 |
---|
1470 | 1470 | | expenses must be itemized in detail to apprise the court of the 989 |
---|
1471 | 1471 | | exact expenses incurred. 990 |
---|
1472 | 1472 | | 5. The services relating to the adoption or to the 991 |
---|
1473 | 1473 | | placement of the child minor for adoption that were received by 992 |
---|
1474 | 1474 | | or on behalf of the petitioner, the adoption entity, either 993 |
---|
1475 | 1475 | | parent, the child minor, or any other person. 994 |
---|
1476 | 1476 | | 995 |
---|
1477 | 1477 | | The affidavit must state whether any of these expenses were paid 996 |
---|
1478 | 1478 | | for by collateral sources, including, but not limit ed to, health 997 |
---|
1479 | 1479 | | insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, or public assistance. 998 |
---|
1480 | 1480 | | (3) The court must issue a separate order approving or 999 |
---|
1481 | 1481 | | disapproving the fees, costs, and expenses itemized in the 1000 |
---|
1482 | 1482 | | |
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1489 | 1489 | | Page 41 of 45 |
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1490 | 1490 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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1491 | 1491 | | |
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1492 | 1492 | | |
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1493 | 1493 | | |
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1494 | 1494 | | affidavit. The court may approve only fees, costs, and 1001 |
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1495 | 1495 | | expenditures allowed under s. 63.097. The court may reject in 1002 |
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1496 | 1496 | | whole or in part any fee, cost, or expenditure listed if the 1003 |
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1497 | 1497 | | court finds that the expense is: 1004 |
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1498 | 1498 | | (b) Not supported by a receipt , if requested in the 1005 |
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1499 | 1499 | | record, if the expense is not a fee of the adoption entity; or 1006 |
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1500 | 1500 | | Section 12. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section 1007 |
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1501 | 1501 | | 63.212, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1008 |
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1502 | 1502 | | 63.212 Prohibited acts; penalties for violation. — 1009 |
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1503 | 1503 | | (1) It is unlawful for any person: 1010 |
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1504 | 1504 | | (c) To sell or surrender, or to arrange for the sale or 1011 |
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1505 | 1505 | | surrender of, a child minor to another person for money or 1012 |
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1506 | 1506 | | anything of value or to receive such minor child for such 1013 |
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1507 | 1507 | | payment or thing of value. If a child minor is being adopted by 1014 |
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1508 | 1508 | | a relative or by a stepparent, or is being adopted through an 1015 |
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1509 | 1509 | | adoption entity, this paragraph does not prohibit the person who 1016 |
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1510 | 1510 | | is contemplating adopting the child from paying, under ss. 1017 |
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1511 | 1511 | | 63.097 and 63.132, the actual prenatal care and living expenses 1018 |
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1512 | 1512 | | of the mother of the child to be adopted, or from paying, under 1019 |
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1513 | 1513 | | ss. 63.097 and 63.132, the actual living and medical expenses of 1020 |
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1514 | 1514 | | such mother for a reasonable time, not to exceed 6 weeks, if 1021 |
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1515 | 1515 | | medical needs require such support, after the birth of the child 1022 |
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1516 | 1516 | | minor. 1023 |
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1517 | 1517 | | Section 13. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section 1024 |
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1518 | 1518 | | 39.4021, Florida Stat utes, is amended to read: 1025 |
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1526 | 1526 | | Page 42 of 45 |
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1527 | 1527 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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1528 | 1528 | | |
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1529 | 1529 | | |
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1530 | 1530 | | |
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1531 | 1531 | | 39.4021 Priority placement for out -of-home placements.— 1026 |
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1532 | 1532 | | (2) PLACEMENT PRIORITY. — 1027 |
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1533 | 1533 | | (c) Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, a 1028 |
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1534 | 1534 | | change to a child's physical or legal placement after the child 1029 |
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1535 | 1535 | | has been sheltered but before the child has achieved permanency 1030 |
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1536 | 1536 | | must be made in compliance with this section. Placements made 1031 |
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1537 | 1537 | | pursuant to s. 63.083 s. 63.082(6) are exempt from this section. 1032 |
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1538 | 1538 | | Section 14. Paragraph (d) of subsection (5) of section 1033 |
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1539 | 1539 | | 39.4022, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1034 |
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1540 | 1540 | | 39.4022 Multidisciplinary teams; staffings; assessments; 1035 |
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1541 | 1541 | | report.— 1036 |
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1542 | 1542 | | (5) SCOPE OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM. — 1037 |
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1543 | 1543 | | (d) This section does not apply to placements made 1038 |
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1544 | 1544 | | pursuant to s. 63.083 s. 63.082(6). 1039 |
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1545 | 1545 | | Section 15. Subsection (6) of section 39.4023, Florida 1040 |
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1546 | 1546 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 1041 |
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1547 | 1547 | | 39.4023 Placement and education transitions; transition 1042 |
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1548 | 1548 | | plans.— 1043 |
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1549 | 1549 | | (6) EXEMPTION.—Placements made pursuant to s. 63.083 s. 1044 |
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1550 | 1550 | | 63.082(6) are exempt from this section. 1045 |
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1551 | 1551 | | Section 16. Subsection (7) of section 39 .4024, Florida 1046 |
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1552 | 1552 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 1047 |
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1553 | 1553 | | 39.4024 Placement of siblings; visitation; continuing 1048 |
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1554 | 1554 | | contact.— 1049 |
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1555 | 1555 | | (7) EXEMPTION.—Placements made pursuant to s. 63.083 s. 1050 |
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1563 | 1563 | | Page 43 of 45 |
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1564 | 1564 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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1565 | 1565 | | |
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1566 | 1566 | | |
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1567 | 1567 | | |
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1568 | 1568 | | 63.082(6) are exempt from this section. 1051 |
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1569 | 1569 | | Section 17. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and paragraph 1052 |
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1570 | 1570 | | (a) of subsection (3) of section 39.522, Florida Statutes, are 1053 |
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1571 | 1571 | | amended to read: 1054 |
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1572 | 1572 | | 39.522 Postdisposition change of custody. — 1055 |
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1573 | 1573 | | (2) 1056 |
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1574 | 1574 | | (b) Upon the admission of a need for a change or after 1057 |
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1575 | 1575 | | such hearing, the court shall enter an order changing the 1058 |
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1576 | 1576 | | placement, modifying the conditions of protective supervision, 1059 |
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1577 | 1577 | | or continuing the conditions of protective supervision as 1060 |
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1578 | 1578 | | ordered. The standard for changing custody of the child shall be 1061 |
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1579 | 1579 | | the best interests of the child. When determining whether a 1062 |
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1580 | 1580 | | change of legal custody or placement is in the best interests of 1063 |
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1581 | 1581 | | the child, the court shall consider the factors listed in s. 1064 |
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1582 | 1582 | | 39.01375 and the report filed by the multidisciplinary team, if 1065 |
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1583 | 1583 | | applicable, unless the change of custody or placement is made 1066 |
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1584 | 1584 | | pursuant to s. 63.083 s. 63.082(6). The court shall also 1067 |
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1585 | 1585 | | consider the priority of placements established under s. 39.4021 1068 |
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1586 | 1586 | | when making a decision regarding the best interest of the child 1069 |
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1587 | 1587 | | in out-of-home care. 1070 |
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1588 | 1588 | | (3)(a) For purposes of this subsection, the term "change 1071 |
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1589 | 1589 | | in physical custody" means a change by the department or 1072 |
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1590 | 1590 | | community-based care lead agency to the child's physical 1073 |
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1591 | 1591 | | residential address, regardless of whether such change requires 1074 |
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1592 | 1592 | | a court order to change the legal custody of the child. However, 1075 |
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1600 | 1600 | | Page 44 of 45 |
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1601 | 1601 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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1602 | 1602 | | |
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1603 | 1603 | | |
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1604 | 1604 | | |
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1605 | 1605 | | this term does not include a change in placement made pursuant 1076 |
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1606 | 1606 | | to s. 63.083 s. 63.082(6). 1077 |
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1607 | 1607 | | Section 18. Subsection (5) of section 39.812, Florida 1078 |
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1608 | 1608 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 1079 |
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1609 | 1609 | | 39.812 Postdisposition relief; petition for adoption. — 1080 |
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1610 | 1610 | | (5) The petition for adoption mu st be filed in the 1081 |
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1611 | 1611 | | division of the circuit court which entered the judgment 1082 |
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1612 | 1612 | | terminating parental rights, unless a motion for change of venue 1083 |
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1613 | 1613 | | is granted pursuant to s. 47.122. A copy of the consent executed 1084 |
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1614 | 1614 | | by the department must be attached to the petition , unless 1085 |
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1615 | 1615 | | waived pursuant to s. 63.062(8) s. 63.062(7). The petition must 1086 |
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1616 | 1616 | | be accompanied by a statement, signed by the prospective 1087 |
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1617 | 1617 | | adoptive parents, acknowledging receipt of all information 1088 |
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1618 | 1618 | | required to be disclosed under s. 63.085 and a form provided by 1089 |
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1619 | 1619 | | the department which details the social and medical history of 1090 |
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1620 | 1620 | | the child and each parent and includes the social security 1091 |
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1621 | 1621 | | number and date of birth for each parent, if such information is 1092 |
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1622 | 1622 | | available or readily obtainable. The prospective adoptive 1093 |
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1623 | 1623 | | parents may not file a petition for adoption until the judgment 1094 |
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1624 | 1624 | | terminating parental rights becomes final. An adoption 1095 |
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1625 | 1625 | | proceeding under this subsection is governed by chapter 63. 1096 |
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1626 | 1626 | | Section 19. Subsection (5) of section 63.093, Florida 1097 |
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1627 | 1627 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 1098 |
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1628 | 1628 | | 63.093 Adoption of children from the child welfare 1099 |
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1629 | 1629 | | system.— 1100 |
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1638 | 1638 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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1639 | 1639 | | |
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1640 | 1640 | | |
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1641 | 1641 | | |
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1642 | 1642 | | (5) At the conclusion of the adoptive home study and 1101 |
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1643 | 1643 | | preparation process, a decision shall be made about the 1102 |
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1644 | 1644 | | prospective adoptive parent's appropriateness to adopt. This 1103 |
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1645 | 1645 | | decision shall be reflect ed in the final recommendation included 1104 |
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1646 | 1646 | | in the adoptive home study. If the recommendation is for 1105 |
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1647 | 1647 | | approval, the adoptive parent application file must be submitted 1106 |
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1648 | 1648 | | to the community-based care lead agency or its subcontracted 1107 |
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1649 | 1649 | | agency for approval. The communit y-based care lead agency or its 1108 |
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1650 | 1650 | | subcontracted agency must approve or deny the home study within 1109 |
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1651 | 1651 | | 14 business days after receipt of the recommendation. 1110 |
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1652 | 1652 | | 1111 |
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1653 | 1653 | | Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), this section does not 1112 |
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1654 | 1654 | | apply to a child adopted through the proce ss provided in s. 1113 |
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1655 | 1655 | | 63.083 s. 63.082(6). 1114 |
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1656 | 1656 | | Section 20. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 1115 |
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