Florida 2023 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H1099 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.
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1010 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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1414 A bill to be entitled 1
1515 An act relating to adoption; amending s. 63.032, F.S.; 2
1616 revising definitions; amending s. 63.037, F.S.; 3
1717 exempting certain requirements if certain 4
1818 documentation is contained in the court's file; 5
1919 amending s. 63.0423, F.S.; providing requirements for 6
2020 an adoption entity, rather than a licensed child -7
2121 placing agency, relating to surrendered infants; 8
2222 requiring a certain finding by the court before a 9
2323 judgment terminating parental rights may be granted; 10
2424 amending s. 63.052, F.S.; providing when an adoption 11
2525 entity, rather than an intermediary, becomes the 12
2626 designated guardian of a child; requiring a child to 13
2727 be placed in an intermediary, rather than with a 14
2828 relative, under certain circumstances; amending s. 15
2929 63.062, F.S.; revising unmarried biological father 16
3030 requirements; providing requirements for a notice of 17
3131 an intended adoption plan and service of such notice 18
3232 on an unmarried biological father; revising the 19
3333 methods by which a notice of a petition to adopt an 20
3434 adult may be completed; providing construction; making 21
3535 technical changes; amending s. 63.082, F.S.; providing 22
3636 that a consent to adoption may or may not identify a 23
3737 specific adopting parent; providing that a parent's 24
3838 identified or nonidentified consent is valid, binding, 25
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4747 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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5151 and enforceable; authorizing an adoption entity to 26
5252 intervene after the execution of consent and filing of 27
5353 a preliminary home study; revising certain factors a 28
5454 court must consider to transfer custody of a child; 29
5555 specifying persons who must be notified upon a 30
5656 revocation of consent; requiring the court to en ter an 31
5757 order maintaining certain placement of the child under 32
5858 certain circumstances; prohibiting a denied petition 33
5959 to terminate parental rights to be used in certain 34
6060 ways; prohibiting an identified or nonidentified 35
6161 consent from being treated as a surrender of parental 36
6262 rights; amending s. 63.085, F.S.; revising the 37
6363 requirements of such disclosure; requiring a copy of 38
6464 certain documents be filed with the court; making 39
6565 technical changes; amending s. 63.087, F.S.; requiring 40
6666 the clerk of court to issue a separate case number for 41
6767 a petition for adoption and prohibiting such petition 42
6868 from being maintained in a specified case file; 43
6969 authorizing a consent to adoption to be filed 44
7070 electronically with a petition for termination of 45
7171 parental rights; revising and providing r equirements 46
7272 for such petition; making technical changes; amending 47
7373 s. 63.088, F.S.; revising the required notice served 48
7474 with a petition to terminate parental rights; amending 49
7575 s. 63.089, F.S.; revising the factors a court must 50
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8484 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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8888 consider in determining a findi ng of abandonment; 51
8989 amending s. 63.122, F.S.; requiring certain notice of 52
9090 hearing be given as prescribed in the Florida Family 53
9191 Law Rules of Procedure; amending s. 63.132, F.S.; 54
9292 specifying that certain fees are hourly fees; making 55
9393 technical changes; amending s. 63.212, F.S.; removing 56
9494 the requirement that a mother's medical needs requires 57
9595 such support in order to be paid by certain persons; 58
9696 amending ss. 39.4021, 39.4022, 39.4023, 39.4024, 59
9797 39.522, 39.812, and 63.093, F.S.; conforming cross -60
9898 references; providing an effective date. 61
9999 62
100100 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 63
101101 64
102102 Section 1. Subsections (1) and (12) of section 63.032, 65
103103 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 66
104104 63.032 Definitions. —As used in this chapter, the term: 67
105105 (1) "Abandoned" means a situation in which a the parent or 68
106106 person having legal custody of a child, while being able, makes 69
107107 little or no provision for the child's support or makes little 70
108108 or no effort to communicate with the child, which situation is 71
109109 sufficient to evince rejection of an intent to reject parental 72
110110 responsibilities. If, in the opinion of the court, the efforts 73
111111 of such parent or person having legal custody of the child to 74
112112 support and communicate with the child are only marginal efforts 75
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121121 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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125125 that do not evince a sett led purpose to assume all parental 76
126126 duties, the court may declare the child to be abandoned. In 77
127127 making this decision, the court may consider the conduct of a 78
128128 father towards the child's mother during her pregnancy. 79
129129 (12) "Parent" means a woman who gives bir th to a child and 80
130130 who is not a gestational surrogate as defined in s. 742.13 or a 81
131131 man whose consent to the adoption of the child would be required 82
132132 under s. 63.062(1). If a child has been legally adopted, the 83
133133 term "parent" means the adoptive mother or fathe r of the child. 84
134134 The term does not include an individual whose parental 85
135135 relationship to the child has been legally terminated , an 86
136136 unmarried biological father, or an alleged or prospective 87
137137 parent. 88
138138 Section 2. Section 63.037, Florida Statutes, is amended t o 89
139139 read: 90
140140 63.037 Proceedings applicable to cases resulting from a 91
141141 termination of parental rights under chapter 39. —A case in which 92
142142 a child minor becomes available for adoption after the parental 93
143143 rights of each parent have been terminated by a judgment ente red 94
144144 under pursuant to chapter 39 is shall be governed by s. 39.812 95
145145 and this chapter. Adoption proceedings initiated under chapter 96
146146 39 are exempt from the following provisions of this chapter: 97
147147 requirement for search of the Florida Putative Father Registry 98
148148 provided in s. 63.054(7), if a search was previously completed 99
149149 and documentation of the search is contained in the court's case 100
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158158 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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162162 file maintained in the dependency proceeding ; disclosure 101
163163 requirements for the adoption entity provided in s. 63.085(1); 102
164164 general provisions governing termination of parental rights 103
165165 pending adoption provided in s. 63.087; notice and service 104
166166 provisions governing termination of parental rights pending 105
167167 adoption provided in s. 63.088; and procedures for terminating 106
168168 parental rights pending adoption provided in s. 63.089. 107
169169 Section 3. Subsections (1) through (5) and subsection (10) 108
170170 of section 63.0423, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 109
171171 63.0423 Procedures with respect to surrendered infants. — 110
172172 (1) Upon entry of final judgment terminat ing parental 111
173173 rights, an adoption entity a licensed child-placing agency that 112
174174 takes physical custody of an infant surrendered at a hospital, 113
175175 emergency medical services station, or fire station under 114
176176 pursuant to s. 383.50 assumes responsibility for the medic al and 115
177177 other costs associated with the emergency services and care of 116
178178 the surrendered infant from the time the adoption entity 117
179179 licensed child-placing agency takes physical custody of the 118
180180 surrendered infant. 119
181181 (2) The adoption entity licensed child-placing agency 120
182182 shall immediately seek an order from the circuit court for 121
183183 emergency custody of the surrendered infant. The emergency 122
184184 custody order remains shall remain in effect until the court 123
185185 orders preliminary approval of placement of the surrendered 124
186186 infant in the prospective home, at which time the prospective 125
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195195 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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199199 adoptive parents become guardians pending termination of 126
200200 parental rights and finalization of adoption or until the court 127
201201 orders otherwise. The guardianship of the prospective adoptive 128
202202 parents remains shall remain subject to the right of the 129
203203 adoption entity licensed child-placing agency to remove the 130
204204 surrendered infant from the placement during the pendency of the 131
205205 proceedings if such removal is deemed by the adoption entity 132
206206 licensed child-placing agency to be in the best interests of the 133
207207 child and the removal is in accordance with s. 63.052 . The 134
208208 adoption entity licensed child-placing agency may immediately 135
209209 seek to place the surrendered infant in a prospective adoptive 136
210210 home. 137
211211 (3) The adoption entity licensed child-placing agency that 138
212212 takes physical custody of the surrendered infant must shall, 139
213213 within 24 hours thereafter, request assistance from law 140
214214 enforcement officials to investigate and determine, through the 141
215215 Missing Children Information Clearinghouse, the National Center 142
216216 for Missing and Exploited Children, and any other national and 143
217217 state resources, whether the surrendered infant is a missing 144
218218 child. 145
219219 (4) The parent who surrenders the infant in accordance 146
220220 with s. 383.50 is presumed to have consented to term ination of 147
221221 parental rights, and express consent is not required. Except 148
222222 when there is actual or suspected child abuse or neglect, the 149
223223 adoption entity may licensed child-placing agency shall not 150
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232232 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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236236 attempt to pursue, search for, or notify that parent as provided 151
237237 in s. 63.088 and chapter 49. For purposes of s. 383.50 and this 152
238238 section, an infant who tests positive for illegal drugs, 153
239239 narcotic prescription drugs, alcohol, or other substances, but 154
240240 shows no other signs of child abuse or neglect, must shall be 155
241241 placed in the custody of an adoption entity a licensed child-156
242242 placing agency. Such a placement does not eliminate the 157
243243 reporting requirement under s. 383.50(7). When the department is 158
244244 contacted regarding an infant properly surrendered under this 159
245245 section and s. 383.50, the department must shall provide 160
246246 instruction to contact an adoption entity a licensed child-161
247247 placing agency and may not take custody of the infant unless 162
248248 reasonable efforts to contact an adoption entity a licensed 163
249249 child-placing agency to accept the infant have not been 164
250250 successful. 165
251251 (5) A petition for termination of parental rights under 166
252252 this section may not be filed until 30 days after the date the 167
253253 infant was surrendered in accordance with s. 383.50. The court 168
254254 may not grant a judgment terminating a petition for termination 169
255255 of parental rights may not be granted until the court finds that 170
256256 a parent has failed to reclaim or claim the surrendered infant 171
257257 within the time period specified in s. 383.50. 172
258258 (10) Except to the extent expressly provided in this 173
259259 section, proceedings initiated by an adoption entity a licensed 174
260260 child-placing agency for the termination of parental rights and 175
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269269 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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273273 subsequent adoption of a newborn infant left at a hospital, 176
274274 emergency medical services station, or fire station in 177
275275 accordance with s. 383.50 must shall be conducted under pursuant 178
276276 to this chapter. 179
277277 Section 4. Section 63.052, Florida Statutes, is amended to 180
278278 read: 181
279279 63.052 Guardians designated; proof of commitment. — 182
280280 (1)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), if a child for 183
281281 minors who is have been placed for adoption with an adoption 184
282282 entity, other than an intermediary, such adoption entity is 185
283283 shall be the guardian of the person of the child minor and has 186
284284 the responsibility and authority to provide for the needs and 187
285285 welfare of the child minor. 188
286286 (b)(2) If a child For minors who is have been voluntarily 189
287287 surrendered to an adoption entity intermediary through an 190
288288 execution of a consent to adoption, the adoption entity is 191
289289 intermediary shall be responsible for the child minor until the 192
290290 time a court orders preliminary approval of placement of the 193
291291 child minor in the prospective adoptive home, after which time 194
292292 the prospective adoptive parents shall become the child's 195
293293 guardians pending finalization of adoption, subject to the 196
294294 adoption entity's intermediary's right and responsibility to 197
295295 remove the child from the prospective adoptive home if the 198
296296 removal is deemed by the adoption entity intermediary to be in 199
297297 the best interests of the child. The adoption entity 200
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306306 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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310310 intermediary may not remove the child without a court order 201
311311 unless the child is in danger of imminent harm. The adoption 202
312312 entity is not intermediary does not become responsible for the 203
313313 minor child's medical bills that were incurred before taking 204
314314 physical custody of the child after the execution of adoption 205
315315 consents. Notwithstanding the guardianship provisions in this 206
316316 section, the requirements of s. 627.6578 relating to insurance 207
317317 coverage for adopted and foster children remain in effect. Prior 208
318318 to the court's entry of an order granti ng preliminary approval 209
319319 of the placement, the intermediary shall have the responsibility 210
320320 and authority to provide for the needs and welfare of the minor. 211
321321 A child minor may not be placed in a prospective adoptive home 212
322322 until that home has received a favorabl e preliminary home study, 213
323323 as provided in s. 63.092, completed and approved within 1 year 214
324324 before such placement in the prospective home. The provisions of 215
325325 s. 627.6578 shall remain in effect notwithstanding the 216
326326 guardianship provisions in this section. 217
327327 (2)(3) If a child minor is surrendered to an adoption 218
328328 entity for subsequent adoption and a suitable prospective 219
329329 adoptive home is not available under pursuant to s. 63.092 at 220
330330 the time the child minor is surrendered to the adoption entity, 221
331331 the child minor must be placed in a licensed foster care home, 222
332332 with a person or family that has received a favorable 223
333333 preliminary home study as required under pursuant to subsection 224
334334 (1)(2), or with an intermediary a relative until a suitable 225
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343343 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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347347 prospective adoptive home is availabl e. 226
348348 (3)(4) If a child minor is voluntarily surrendered to an 227
349349 adoption entity for subsequent adoption and the adoption does 228
350350 not become final within 180 days after termination of parental 229
351351 rights, the adoption entity must report to the court on the 230
352352 status of the child minor and the court may at that time proceed 231
353353 under s. 39.701 or take action reasonably necessary to protect 232
354354 the best interest of the child minor. 233
355355 (4)(5) The recital in a written consent, answer, or 234
356356 recommendation filed by an adoption entity th at the child minor 235
357357 has been permanently committed to the adoption entity or that 236
358358 the adoption entity is duly licensed is shall be prima facie 237
359359 proof of such commitment. A consent for adoption signed by an 238
360360 adoption entity does not need to not comply with s. 63.082. 239
361361 (5)(6) Unless otherwise authorized by law or ordered by 240
362362 the court, the department is not responsible for expenses 241
363363 incurred by other adoption entities participating in a placement 242
364364 of a child minor. 243
365365 (6)(7) The court retains jurisd iction of a child minor who 244
366366 has been placed for adoption until the adoption is final. After 245
367367 a child minor is placed with an adoption entity or prospective 246
368368 adoptive parent, the court may review the status of the child 247
369369 minor and the progress toward permanent adoptive placement. 248
370370 Section 5. Section 63.062, Florida Statutes, is amended to 249
371371 read: 250
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380380 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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384384 63.062 Persons required to consent to adoption; affidavit 251
385385 of nonpaternity; waiver of venue. — 252
386386 (1) Unless supported by one or more of the grounds 253
387387 enumerated under s. 63.089(3), a petition to terminate parental 254
388388 rights pending adoption may be granted only if written consent 255
389389 has been executed as provided in s. 63.082 after the birth of 256
390390 the child minor or notice has been served under s. 63.088 to: 257
391391 (a) The mother of the child minor. 258
392392 (b) The father of the child minor, if: 259
393393 1. The child minor was conceived or born while the father 260
394394 was married to the mother; 261
395395 2. The child minor is the father's his child by adoption; 262
396396 3. The child minor has been adjudicated by the court to be 263
397397 the father's his child before the date a petition for 264
398398 termination of parental rights is filed; 265
399399 4. The father He has filed an affidavit of paternity under 266
400400 pursuant to s. 382.013(2)(c) or he is listed on the child's 267
401401 birth certificate before the date a petition for termination of 268
402402 parental rights is filed; or 269
403403 5. In the case of an unmarried biological father, he has 270
404404 acknowledged in writing, signed in the presence of a competent 271
405405 witness, that he is the father of the child minor, has filed 272
406406 such acknowledgment with the Office of Vital Statistics of the 273
407407 Department of Health within the required timeframes, and has 274
408408 strictly complied with the requirements of subsection (2). 275
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417417 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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422422 The status of the father must shall be determined at the time of 277
423423 the filing of the pe tition to terminate parental rights and may 278
424424 not be modified, except as otherwise provided in s. 279
425425 63.0423(9)(a), for purposes of his obligations and rights under 280
426426 this chapter by acts occurring after the filing of the petition 281
427427 to terminate parental rights. 282
428428 (c) The child minor, if 12 years of age or older, unless 283
429429 the court finds that it is not in the best interest of the child 284
430430 to require his or her minor dispenses with the minor's consent. 285
431431 (d) Any person lawfully entitled to custody of the child 286
432432 minor if required by the court. 287
433433 (e) The court having jurisdiction to determine custody of 288
434434 the child minor, if the person having physical custody of the 289
435435 child minor does not have authority to consent to the adoption. 290
436436 (2) In accordance with subsection (1), th e consent of an 291
437437 unmarried biological father is shall be necessary only if the 292
438438 unmarried biological father has complied with all of the 293
439439 requirements of this subsection. 294
440440 (a)1. With regard to a child who is placed with adoptive 295
441441 parents more than 6 months af ter the child's birth, an unmarried 296
442442 biological father must have developed a substantial relationship 297
443443 with the child, taken some measure of responsibility for the 298
444444 child and the child's future, and demonstrated a full commitment 299
445445 to the responsibilities of pa renthood by providing reasonable 300
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454454 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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458458 and regular financial support for the child's educational, 301
459459 medical, and living expenses to the child in accordance with the 302
460460 unmarried biological father's ability, if not prevented from 303
461461 doing so by the person or authorized a gency having lawful 304
462462 custody of the child, and either: 305
463463 a. Regularly visited the child at least monthly, when 306
464464 physically and financially able to do so and when not prevented 307
465465 from doing so by the birth mother or the person or authorized 308
466466 agency having lawful custody of the child; or 309
467467 b. Maintained regular communication with the child or with 310
468468 the person or agency having the care or custody of the child, 311
469469 when physically or financially unable to visit the child or when 312
470470 not prevented from doing so by the birth mother or person or 313
471471 authorized agency having lawful custody of the child. 314
472472 2. An unmarried biological father who openly lived with 315
473473 the child for at least 6 months within the 1 -year period 316
474474 following the birth of the child and immediately preceding 317
475475 placement of the child with adoptive parents and who openly held 318
476476 himself out to be the father of the child during that period is 319
477477 shall be deemed to have developed a substantial relationship 320
478478 with the child and to have otherwise met the requirements of 321
479479 this paragraph. 322
480480 (b) With regard to a child who is 6 months of age or 323
481481 younger at the time the child is placed for adoption with the 324
482482 adoptive parents, an unmarried biological father must have 325
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491491 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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495495 demonstrated a full commitment to his parental responsibility by 326
496496 having performed all of the following acts within 30 days after 327
497497 receipt of service of the notice of intended adoption plan prior 328
498498 to the time the mother executes her consent for adoption : 329
499499 1. Filed a notarized claim of paternity form with the 330
500500 Florida Putative Father R egistry within the Office of Vital 331
501501 Statistics of the Department of Health, which form must shall be 332
502502 maintained in the confidential registry established for that 333
503503 purpose and is shall be considered filed when the notice is 334
504504 entered in the registry of notices from unmarried biological 335
505505 fathers. 336
506506 2. Upon service of a notice of an intended adoption plan 337
507507 or a petition for termination of parental rights pending 338
508508 adoption, executed and Filed an affidavit or a verified response 339
509509 with the court in that proceeding stating that he is personally 340
510510 fully able and willing to take responsibility for the child, 341
511511 setting forth his plans for care of the child, and agreeing to a 342
512512 court order of child support and a contribution to the payment 343
513513 of living and medical expenses incurred for the mother's 344
514514 pregnancy and the child's birth in accordance with his ability 345
515515 to pay. 346
516516 3. If he had knowledge of the pregnancy, Paid a fair and 347
517517 reasonable amount of the living and medical expenses for the 348
518518 birth mother and the child incurred in connection w ith the 349
519519 mother's pregnancy and the child's birth , in accordance with the 350
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528528 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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532532 unmarried biological father's his financial ability and when not 351
533533 prevented from doing so by the birth mother or person or 352
534534 authorized agency having lawful custody of the child. The 353
535535 responsibility of the unmarried biological father to provide 354
536536 financial assistance to the birth mother during her pregnancy 355
537537 and to the child after birth is not abated because support is 356
538538 being provided to the birth mother or child by the adoption 357
539539 entity, a prospective adoptive parent, or a third party, nor 358
540540 does it serve as a basis to excuse the birth father's failure to 359
541541 provide support. 360
542542 361
543543 Offers of support are insufficient to meet the requirements of 362
544544 this subsection. 363
545545 (c) The mere fact that a father expresses a d esire to 364
546546 fulfill his responsibilities towards his child which is 365
547547 unsupported by acts evidencing this intent does not meet the 366
548548 requirements of this subsection section. An unmarried biological 367
549549 father who does not strictly comply with each of the conditions 368
550550 provided in this subsection is not considered a "parent" under 369
551551 this chapter and the court shall enter a judgment finding that 370
552552 the unmarried biological father has waived and surrendered any 371
553553 rights in relation to the child, including the right to notice 372
554554 of any judicial proceeding in connection with the adoption of 373
555555 the child, and his consent to the adoption of the child is not 374
556556 required and any claim he may have had to the child is barred. 375
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565565 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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569569 Upon the entry of the court order, the adoption entity has no 376
570570 further duties under this chapter with regard to the unmarried 377
571571 biological father. 378
572572 (d) The petitioner shall file with the court a certificate 379
573573 from the Office of Vital Statistics stating that a diligent 380
574574 search has been made of the Florida Putative Father Registry of 381
575575 notices from unmarried biological fathers described in 382
576576 subparagraph (b)1. and that no filing has been found pertaining 383
577577 to the father of the child in question or, if a filing is found, 384
578578 stating the name of the putative father and the time and date of 385
579579 filing. That certificate shall be filed with the court prior to 386
580580 the entry of a final judgment of termination of parental rights. 387
581581 (e) An unmarried biological father who does not comply 388
582582 with each of the conditions provided in this subsection is 389
583583 deemed to have waived and surrendered any rights in relation to 390
584584 the child, including the right to notice of any judicial 391
585585 proceeding in connection with the adoption of the child, and his 392
586586 consent to the adoption of the child is not required. 393
587587 (3) Pursuant to chapter 48, an a doption entity shall serve 394
588588 a notice of intended adoption plan upon any known and locatable 395
589589 unmarried biological father who is identified to the adoption 396
590590 entity by the mother by the date she signs her consent for 397
591591 adoption if the child is 6 months of age or less at the time the 398
592592 consent is executed. Service of the notice of intended adoption 399
593593 plan is not required when the unmarried biological father signs 400
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602602 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
603603
604604
605605
606606 a consent for adoption or an affidavit of nonpaternity or when 401
607607 the child is more than 6 months of age at th e time of the 402
608608 execution of the consent by the mother. The notice may be served 403
609609 at any time before the child's birth or after the child's birth 404
610610 only if the mother identifies him to the adoption entity as a 405
611611 potential biological father by the date she execute s a consent 406
612612 for adoption before placing the child in the adoptive home. The 407
613613 recipient of the notice may waive service of process by 408
614614 executing a waiver and acknowledging receipt of the plan. 409
615615 (a) The notice of intended adoption plan must specifically 410
616616 state that if the unmarried biological father desires to contest 411
617617 the adoption plan he must, within 30 days after service, file 412
618618 with the court a verified response that contains a pledge of 413
619619 commitment to the child in substantial compliance with 414
620620 subparagraph (2)(b)2., file and a claim of paternity form with 415
621621 the Office of Vital Statistics, and must provide to the adoption 416
622622 entity a fair and reasonable amount of support for the benefit 417
623623 of the birth mother and child with a copy of the verified 418
624624 response filed with the court and the claim of paternity form 419
625625 filed with the Office of Vital Statistics . 420
626626 (b) The notice must also include instructions for 421
627627 submitting a claim of paternity form to the Office of Vital 422
628628 Statistics and the address to which the claim must be sent. 423
629629 (c) The unmarried biological father must provide the 424
630630 adoption entity with a copy of the verified response filed with 425
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639639 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
640640
641641
642642
643643 the court and the claim of paternity form filed with the Office 426
644644 of Vital Statistics If the party served with the notice of 427
645645 intended adoption plan is an entity whose consent is required, 428
646646 the notice must specifically state that the entity must file, 429
647647 within 30 days after service, a verified response setting forth 430
648648 a legal basis for contesting the intended adoption plan, 431
649649 specifically addressing the best interests of the child . 432
650650 (a) If the unmarried biological father or entity whose 433
651651 consent is required fails to timely and properly file a verified 434
652652 response with the court and, in the case of an unmarried 435
653653 biological father, a claim of paternity form wi th the Office of 436
654654 Vital Statistics, the court shall enter a default judgment 437
655655 against the unmarried biological father or entity and the 438
656656 consent of that unmarried biological father or entity shall no 439
657657 longer be required under this chapter and shall be deemed t o 440
658658 have waived any claim of rights to the child. To avoid an entry 441
659659 of a default judgment, within 30 days after receipt of service 442
660660 of the notice of intended adoption plan: 443
661661 1. The unmarried biological father must: 444
662662 a. File a claim of paternity with the Flo rida Putative 445
663663 Father Registry maintained by the Office of Vital Statistics; 446
664664 b. File a verified response with the court which contains 447
665665 a pledge of commitment to the child in substantial compliance 448
666666 with subparagraph (2)(b)2.; and 449
667667 c. Provide support for t he birth mother and the child. 450
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676676 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
677677
678678
679679
680680 2. The entity whose consent is required must file a 451
681681 verified response setting forth a legal basis for contesting the 452
682682 intended adoption plan, specifically addressing the best 453
683683 interests of the child. 454
684684 (4)(b) If the mother identifies a potential unmarried 455
685685 biological father within the timeframes required by this section 456
686686 the statute, whose location is unknown, the adoption entity must 457
687687 shall conduct a diligent search under pursuant to s. 63.088. If, 458
688688 upon completion of a diligent search, the potential unmarried 459
689689 biological father's location remains unknown and a search of the 460
690690 Florida Putative Father Registry fails to reveal a match, the 461
691691 adoption entity must shall request in the petition for 462
692692 termination of parental rights pending ado ption that the court 463
693693 declare the diligent search to be in compliance with s. 63.088, 464
694694 that the adoption entity has no further obligation to provide 465
695695 notice to the potential unmarried biological father, and that 466
696696 the potential unmarried biological father's con sent to the 467
697697 adoption is not required. 468
698698 (5)(4) Any person whose consent is required under 469
699699 paragraph (1)(b), or any other man, may execute an irrevocable 470
700700 affidavit of nonpaternity in lieu of a consent under this 471
701701 section and by doing so waives notice to all court proceedings 472
702702 after the date of execution. An affidavit of nonpaternity must 473
703703 be executed as provided in s. 63.082. The affidavit of 474
704704 nonpaternity may be executed before prior to the birth of the 475
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713713 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
714714
715715
716716
717717 child. The person executing the affidavit must receive 476
718718 disclosure under s. 63.085 before prior to signing the 477
719719 affidavit. For purposes of this chapter, an affidavit of 478
720720 nonpaternity is sufficient if it contains a specific denial of 479
721721 parental obligations and does not need to deny the existence of 480
722722 a biological relatio nship. 481
723723 (6)(5) A person who signs a consent to adoption or an 482
724724 affidavit of nonpaternity must be given reasonable notice of his 483
725725 or her right to select a person who does not have an employment, 484
726726 professional, or personal relationship with the adoption entity 485
727727 or the prospective adoptive parents to be present when the 486
728728 consent to adoption or affidavit of nonpaternity is executed and 487
729729 to sign the consent or affidavit as a witness. 488
730730 (7)(6) The petitioner must make good faith and diligent 489
731731 efforts as provided under s. 63.088 to notify, and obtain 490
732732 written consent from, the persons required to consent to 491
733733 adoption under this section. The petitioner shall file with the 492
734734 court a certificate from the Office of Vital Statistics stating 493
735735 that a diligent search has been made of the Florida Putative 494
736736 Father Registry of notices from unmarried biological fathers 495
737737 described in subparagraph (2)(b)1. and that no filing has been 496
738738 found pertaining to the father of the child in question or, if a 497
739739 filing is found, stating the name of the puta tive father and the 498
740740 time and date of filing. That certificate must be filed with the 499
741741 court before the entry of a final judgment of termination of 500
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750750 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
751751
752752
753753
754754 parental rights. 501
755755 (8)(7) If parental rights to the child minor have 502
756756 previously been terminated, the adoption entity with which the 503
757757 child minor has been placed for subsequent adoption may provide 504
758758 consent to the adoption. In such case, no other consent is 505
759759 required. The consent of the department is shall be waived upon 506
760760 a determination by the court that such consent is being 507
761761 unreasonably withheld and if the petitioner has filed with the 508
762762 court a favorable preliminary adoptive home study as required 509
763763 under s. 63.092. 510
764764 (9)(8) A petition to adopt an adult may be granted if: 511
765765 (a) Written consent to adoption has been execu ted by the 512
766766 adult and the adult's spouse, if any, unless the spouse's 513
767767 consent is waived by the court for good cause. 514
768768 (b) Written notice of the final hearing on the adoption 515
769769 has been provided to the parents, if any, by certified mail, or 516
770770 proof of service of process, or written waiver has been filed, 517
771771 showing notice has been served on the parents as provided in 518
772772 this chapter. 519
773773 (10)(a)(9) A petition for termination of parental rights 520
774774 must be filed in the appropriate county as determined under s. 521
775775 63.087(2). If a parent whose consent is required objects to 522
776776 venue in the county where the action was filed, the court may 523
777777 transfer venue to a pro per venue consistent with this chapter 524
778778 and chapter 47 unless the objecting parent has previously 525
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787787 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
788788
789789
790790
791791 executed a waiver of venue. 526
792792 (b)(10) The waiver of venue must be a separate document 527
793793 containing no consents, disclosures, or other information 528
794794 unrelated to venue. 529
795795 (11) This section does not preclude a claim for prebirth 530
796796 abandonment under ss. 63.032 and 63.089. 531
797797 Section 6. Subsection (2), paragraph (a) of subsection 532
798798 (3), paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of subsection (4), paragraphs 533
799799 (a), (b), and (e) of subsect ion (6) and subsection (7) of 534
800800 section 63.082, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 535
801801 63.082 Execution of consent to adoption or affidavit of 536
802802 nonpaternity; family social and medical history; revocation of 537
803803 consent.— 538
804804 (2) A consent may name or otherwise id entify a specific 539
805805 adopting parent. A consent that does not name or otherwise 540
806806 identify the adopting parent is valid if the consent contains a 541
807807 statement by the person consenting that the consent was 542
808808 voluntarily executed and that identification of the adoptin g 543
809809 parent is not required for granting the consent. 544
810810 (3)(a) The department must provide a family social and 545
811811 medical history form to an adoption entity that intends to place 546
812812 a child for adoption. Forms containing, at a minimum, the same 547
813813 information as the f orms promulgated by the department must be 548
814814 attached to the petition to terminate parental rights pending 549
815815 adoption and must contain biological and sociological 550
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824824 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
825825
826826
827827
828828 information or information as to the family medical history 551
829829 regarding the child minor and the parents. This form is not 552
830830 required for adoptions of relatives, adult adoptions, or 553
831831 adoptions of stepchildren, unless parental rights are being or 554
832832 were terminated under pursuant to chapter 39. The information 555
833833 must be filed with the court in the termination of parental 556
834834 rights proceeding. 557
835835 (4)(a) An affidavit of nonpaternity may be executed before 558
836836 the birth of the child minor; however, the consent to an 559
837837 adoption may not be executed before the birth of the child minor 560
838838 except in a preplanned adoption under pursuant to s. 63.213. 561
839839 (b) A consent to the adoption of a child minor who is to 562
840840 be placed for adoption may be executed by the birth mother 48 563
841841 hours after the child's minor's birth or the day the birth 564
842842 mother is notified in writing, either on her patient chart o r in 565
843843 release paperwork, that she is fit to be released from the 566
844844 licensed hospital or birth center, whichever is earlier. A 567
845845 consent by any man may be executed at any time after the birth 568
846846 of the child. The consent is valid upon execution and may be 569
847847 withdrawn only if the court finds that it was obtained by fraud 570
848848 or duress. 571
849849 (c) If the child minor to be adopted is older than 6 572
850850 months of age at the time of the execution of the consent, the 573
851851 consent to adoption is valid upon execution; however, it is 574
852852 subject to a revocation period of 3 business days. 575
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861861 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
862862
863863
864864
865865 (6)(a) If a parent executes an identified consent or a 576
866866 nonidentified consent for adoption of a minor with an adoption 577
867867 entity or qualified prospective adoptive parents and the minor 578
868868 child is under the supervision of the department, or otherwise 579
869869 subject to the jurisdiction of the dependency court as a result 580
870870 of the entry of a shelter order, a dependency petition, or a 581
871871 petition for termination of parental rights pursuant to chapter 582
872872 39, but parental rights have not yet b een terminated, the 583
873873 adoption consent is valid, binding, and enforceable by the 584
874874 court. 585
875875 (b) Upon execution of the consent of the parent and filing 586
876876 of the preliminary home study as required in s. 63.092(3) , the 587
877877 adoption entity shall be permitted to interven e in the 588
878878 dependency case as a party of in interest and must provide the 589
879879 court that acquired jurisdiction over the minor, pursuant to the 590
880880 shelter order or dependency petition filed by the department, a 591
881881 copy of the preliminary home study of the prospective a doptive 592
882882 parents and any other evidence of the suitability of the 593
883883 placement. The preliminary home study must be maintained with 594
884884 strictest confidentiality within the dependency court file and 595
885885 the department's file. A preliminary home study must be provided 596
886886 to the court in all cases in which an adoption entity has 597
887887 intervened pursuant to this section. Unless the court has 598
888888 concerns regarding the qualifications of the home study 599
889889 provider, or concerns that the home study may not be adequate to 600
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898898 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
899899
900900
901901
902902 determine the best i nterests of the child, the home study 601
903903 provided by the adoption entity shall be deemed to be sufficient 602
904904 and no additional home study needs to be performed by the 603
905905 department. 604
906906 (e) In determining whether the best interests of the child 605
907907 are served by transfer ring the custody of the minor child to the 606
908908 prospective adoptive parent selected by the parent or adoption 607
909909 entity, the court shall consider and weigh all relevant factors, 608
910910 including, but not limited to all of the following : 609
911911 1. The permanency offered .; 610
912912 2. The established bonded relationship between the child 611
913913 and the current caregiver in any potential adoptive home in 612
914914 which the child has been residing .; 613
915915 3. The stability of the potential adoptive home in which 614
916916 the child has been residing as well as the de sirability of 615
917917 maintaining continuity of placement .; 616
918918 4. The importance of maintaining sibling relationships, if 617
919919 possible.; 618
920920 5. The reasonable preferences and wishes of the child, if 619
921921 the court deems the child to be of sufficient maturity, 620
922922 understanding, and experience to express a preference .; 621
923923 6. Whether a petition for termination of parental rights 622
924924 has been filed pursuant to s. 39.806(1)(f), (g), or (h) .; 623
925925 7. The child's particular needs and development. What is 624
926926 best for the child; and 625
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935935 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
936936
937937
938938
939939 8. The right of the parent to determine an appropriate 626
940940 placement for the child. 627
941941 (7) If a person is seeking to revoke consent for a child 628
942942 older than 6 months of age: 629
943943 (a) The person seeking to revoke consent must, in 630
944944 accordance with paragraph (4)(c), notify the adopti on entity, or 631
945945 if there is not an adoption entity, the adoptive parent's 632
946946 attorney, or the adoptive parents if they are unrepresented, in 633
947947 writing by certified mail, return receipt requested, within 3 634
948948 business days after execution of the consent. As used in t his 635
949949 subsection, the term "business day" means any day on which the 636
950950 United States Postal Service accepts certified mail for 637
951951 delivery. 638
952952 (b) Upon receiving timely written notice from a person 639
953953 whose consent to adoption is required of that person's desire to 640
954954 revoke consent, the adoption entity must contact the prospective 641
955955 adoptive parent to arrange a time certain for the adoption 642
956956 entity to regain physical custody of the child minor, unless, 643
957957 upon a motion for emergency hearing by the adoption entity, the 644
958958 court determines in written findings that placement of the child 645
959959 minor with the person who had legal or physical custody of the 646
960960 child immediately before the child was placed for adoption may 647
961961 endanger the child minor or that the person who desires to 648
962962 revoke consent is not required to consent to the adoption, has 649
963963 been determined to have abandoned the child, or is otherwise 650
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972972 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
973973
974974
975975
976976 subject to a determination that the person's consent is waived 651
977977 under this chapter. 652
978978 (c) If the court finds that the placement of the child 653
979979 with the person who had legal or physical custody of the child 654
980980 immediately before the child was placed for adoption may 655
981981 endanger the child minor, the court must shall enter an order 656
982982 continuing the placement of the child minor with the prospective 657
983983 adoptive parents pending further proceedings if they desire 658
984984 continued placement. If the prospective adoptive parents do not 659
985985 desire continued placement, the order must include, but is need 660
986986 not be limited to, a determination of whether temporary 661
987987 placement in foster care, with the person who had legal or 662
988988 physical custody of the child immediately before placing the 663
989989 child for adoption, or with a relative is in the best interests 664
990990 of the child and whether an investigation by the department is 665
991991 recommended. 666
992992 (d) If the person re voking consent claims to be the father 667
993993 of the child minor but has not been established to be the father 668
994994 by marriage, court order, or scientific testing, the court may 669
995995 order scientific paternity testing and reserve ruling on removal 670
996996 of the child minor until the results of such testing have been 671
997997 filed with the court. 672
998998 (e) The adoption entity must return the child minor within 673
999999 3 business days after timely and proper notification of the 674
10001000 revocation of consent or after the court determines that 675
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10091009 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
10101010
10111011
10121012
10131013 revocation is timely and in accordance with the requirements of 676
10141014 this chapter upon consideration of an emergency motion, as filed 677
10151015 pursuant to paragraph (b), to the physical custody of the person 678
10161016 revoking consent or the person directed by the court. If the 679
10171017 person seeking to revoke consent claims to be the father of the 680
10181018 child minor but has not been established to be the father by 681
10191019 marriage, court order, or scientific testing, the adoption 682
10201020 entity may return the child minor to the care and custody of the 683
10211021 mother, if she desires su ch placement and she is not otherwise 684
10221022 prohibited by law from having custody of the child. 685
10231023 (f) Following the revocation period described in paragraph 686
10241024 (a), consent may be set aside only when the court finds that the 687
10251025 consent was obtained by fraud or duress. 688
10261026 (g) An affidavit of nonpaternity may be set aside only if 689
10271027 the court finds that the affidavit was obtained by fraud or 690
10281028 duress. 691
10291029 (h) If the consent of one parent is set aside or revoked 692
10301030 in accordance with this chapter, or if a petition to terminate 693
10311031 parental rights is denied, any other consents executed by the 694
10321032 other parent or a third party whose consent is required for the 695
10331033 adoption of the child may not be used by the parent whose 696
10341034 consent was revoked or set aside to terminate or diminish the 697
10351035 rights of the other parent or third party whose consent was 698
10361036 required for the adoption of the child. An identified or 699
10371037 nonidentified consent executed under s. 63.083 may not be 700
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10461046 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
10471047
10481048
10491049
10501050 treated as a surrender of parental rights to the department or 701
10511051 the court in a dependency pr oceeding without the express written 702
10521052 consent of that parent. 703
10531053 Section 7. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 63.085, 704
10541054 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 705
10551055 63.085 Disclosure by adoption entity. — 706
10561056 (1) DISCLOSURE REQUIRED TO PARENTS AND PROSPECTIVE 707
10571057 ADOPTIVE PARENTS.—Within 14 days after a person seeking to adopt 708
10581058 a child minor or a person seeking to place a child minor for 709
10591059 adoption contacts an adoption entity in person or provides the 710
10601060 adoption entity with a mailing address, the entity must provide 711
10611061 a written disclosure statement to that person if the entity 712
10621062 agrees or continues to work with the person. For purposes of 713
10631063 providing the written disclosure, a person is considered to be 714
10641064 seeking to place a child for adoption if that person has sought 715
10651065 information or advice from the adoption entity regarding the 716
10661066 option of adoptive placement. If the adoption entity agrees or 717
10671067 continues to work with the person, the adoption entity must 718
10681068 shall also provide the written disclosure to the person parent 719
10691069 who did not initiate con tact with the adoption entity within 14 720
10701070 days after such person that parent is identified and located. 721
10711071 For purposes of providing the written disclosure, a person is 722
10721072 considered to be seeking to place a minor for adoption if that 723
10731073 person has sought information or advice from the adoption entity 724
10741074 regarding the option of adoptive placement. The written 725
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10831083 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
10841084
10851085
10861086
10871087 disclosure statement must be in substantially the following 726
10881088 form: 727
10891089 ADOPTION DISCLOSURE 728
10901090 THE STATE OF FLORIDA REQUIRES THAT THIS FORM BE PROVIDED TO ALL 729
10911091 PERSONS CONSIDERING ADOPTING A CHILD MINOR OR SEEKING TO PLACE A 730
10921092 CHILD MINOR FOR ADOPTION, TO ADVISE THEM OF THE FOLLOWING FACTS 731
10931093 REGARDING ADOPTION UNDER FLORIDA LAW: 732
10941094 1. The name, address, and telephone number of the adoption 733
10951095 entity providing this disclosure is: 734
10961096 Name: ................................ .................... 735
10971097 Address: ................................ ................. 736
10981098 Telephone Number: ................................ ......... 737
10991099 2. The adoption entity does not provide legal 738
11001100 representation or advice to parents or anyone signing a 739
11011101 consent for adoption or affidavit of nonpaternity, and 740
11021102 parents have the right to consult with an attorney of their 741
11031103 own choosing to advise them. 742
11041104 3. With the exception of an adoption by a stepparent or 743
11051105 relative, a child cannot be placed into a prospective 744
11061106 adoptive home unless the prospective adoptive parents have 745
11071107 received a favorable preliminary home study, including 746
11081108 criminal and child abuse clearances. 747
11091109 4. A valid consent for adoption may not be signed by the 748
11101110 birth mother until 48 hours after the birth of the child, 749
11111111 or the day the birth mother is notified, in writing, that 750
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11201120 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
11211121
11221122
11231123
11241124 she is fit for discharge from the licensed hospi tal or 751
11251125 birth center. Any man may sign a valid consent for adoption 752
11261126 at any time after the birth of the child. 753
11271127 5. A consent for adoption signed when before the child is 754
11281128 attains the age of 6 months of age or younger is binding 755
11291129 and irrevocable from the momen t it is signed unless it can 756
11301130 be proven in court that the consent was obtained by fraud 757
11311131 or duress. A consent for adoption signed after the child 758
11321132 attains the age of 6 months is valid from the moment it is 759
11331133 signed; however, it may be revoked up to 3 business d ays 760
11341134 after it was signed. 761
11351135 6. A consent for adoption is not valid if the signature of 762
11361136 the person who signed the consent was obtained by fraud or 763
11371137 duress. 764
11381138 7. An unmarried biological father must act immediately in 765
11391139 order to protect his parental rights. Secti on 63.062, 766
11401140 Florida Statutes, prescribes that any father seeking to 767
11411141 establish his right to consent to the adoption of his child 768
11421142 must file a claim of paternity with the Florida Putative 769
11431143 Father Registry maintained by the Office of Vital 770
11441144 Statistics of the Depa rtment of Health before by the date a 771
11451145 petition to terminate parental rights is filed with the 772
11461146 court, or within 30 days after receiving service of a 773
11471147 Notice of Intended Adoption Plan. If he receives a Notice 774
11481148 of Intended Adoption Plan, he must file a claim of 775
11491149
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11571157 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
11581158
11591159
11601160
11611161 paternity with the Florida Putative Father Registry, file a 776
11621162 parenting plan with the court, and provide financial 777
11631163 support to the mother or child within 30 days after 778
11641164 following service. An unmarried biological father's failure 779
11651165 to timely respond to a Notice of Intended Adoption Plan 780
11661166 constitutes an irrevocable legal waiver of any and all 781
11671167 rights that the father may have to the child. A claim of 782
11681168 paternity registration form for the F lorida Putative Father 783
11691169 Registry may be obtained from any local office of the 784
11701170 Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics, the 785
11711171 Department of Children and Families, the Internet websites 786
11721172 for these agencies, and the offices of the clerks of the 787
11731173 Florida circuit courts. The claim of paternity form must be 788
11741174 submitted to the Office of Vital Statistics, Attention: 789
11751175 Adoption Unit, P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231. 790
11761176 8. There are alternatives to adoption, including foster 791
11771177 care, relative care, and parenting the child. There may be 792
11781178 services and sources of financial assistance in the 793
11791179 community available to parents if they choose to parent the 794
11801180 child. 795
11811181 9. A parent has the right to have a witness of his or her 796
11821182 choice, who is unconnected with the adoption entity or t he 797
11831183 adoptive parents, to be present and witness the signing of 798
11841184 the consent or affidavit of nonpaternity. 799
11851185 10. A parent 14 years of age or younger must have a 800
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11941194 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
11951195
11961196
11971197
11981198 parent, legal guardian, or court -appointed guardian ad 801
11991199 litem to assist and advise the parent as to the adoption 802
12001200 plan and to witness consent. 803
12011201 11. A parent has a right to receive supportive counseling 804
12021202 from a counselor, social worker, physician, clergy, or 805
12031203 attorney. 806
12041204 12. The payment of living or medical expenses by the 807
12051205 prospective adoptive parents or the adoption entity before 808
12061206 the birth of the child does not, in any way, obligate the 809
12071207 parent to sign the consent to for adoption. 810
12081208 (3) ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF DISCLOSURE. —The adoption entity must 811
12091209 obtain a written statement acknowledging receipt of the 812
12101210 disclosures required under this section and signed by the 813
12111211 persons receiving the disclosure or, if it is not possible to 814
12121212 obtain such an acknowledgment, the adoption entity must execute 815
12131213 an affidavit stating why an acknowledgment could not be 816
12141214 obtained. If the disclosure was delivered by certified mail, 817
12151215 return receipt requested, a return receipt signed by the person 818
12161216 from whom acknowledgment is required is sufficient to meet the 819
12171217 requirements of this subsection. A copy of the acknowledgment of 820
12181218 receipt of the disclosure must be provided to the person signing 821
12191219 it. A copy of the acknowledgment or affidavit executed by the 822
12201220 adoption entity in lieu of the acknowledgment must be maintained 823
12211221 in the file of the adoption entity and. The original 824
12221222 acknowledgment or affidavit must be filed with the court. 825
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12311231 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
12321232
12331233
12341234
12351235 Section 8. Subsection (3) and paragraphs (b) and (e) of 826
12361236 subsection (4) of section 63.087, Florida Statutes, are amended 827
12371237 to read: 828
12381238 63.087 Proceeding to terminate parental rights pending 829
12391239 adoption; general provisions. — 830
12401240 (3) PREREQUISITE FOR ADOPTION. —A petition for adoption may 831
12411241 not be filed until after the date the court enters the judgment 832
12421242 terminating parental rights pending adoption. The clerk of the 833
12431243 court shall issue a separate case number and maintain a separate 834
12441244 court file for a petition for adoption. A petition for adoption 835
12451245 may not be maintained in the same court file as the proceeding 836
12461246 to terminate parental rights. Adoptions of relatives, adult 837
12471247 adoptions, or adoptions of stepchildren are not required to file 838
12481248 a separate termination of parental rights proceeding pending 839
12491249 adoption. In such cases, the petitioner may file a joint 840
12501250 petition for termination of parental rights and adoption, 841
12511251 attaching all required consents, affidavits, notices, and 842
12521252 acknowledgments. Unless otherw ise provided by law, this chapter 843
12531253 applies to joint petitions. 844
12541254 (4) PETITION.— 845
12551255 (b) The petition may be filed by a parent or person having 846
12561256 physical custody of the child minor. The petition may be filed 847
12571257 by an adoption entity only if a parent or person havi ng physical 848
12581258 or legal custody who has executed a consent to adoption under 849
12591259 pursuant to s. 63.082 also consents in writing to the adoption 850
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12681268 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
12691269
12701270
12711271
12721272 entity filing the petition. A copy The original of such consent 851
12731273 must be filed with the petition. 852
12741274 (e) The petition mus t include: 853
12751275 1. The child's minor's name, gender, date of birth, and 854
12761276 place of birth. The petition must contain all names by which the 855
12771277 child minor is or has been known, excluding the child's minor's 856
12781278 prospective adoptive name but including the child's minor's 857
12791279 legal name at the time of the filing of the petition. In the 858
12801280 case of an infant child whose adoptive name appears on the 859
12811281 original birth certificate, the adoptive name shall not be 860
12821282 included in the petition , nor shall it be included elsewhere in 861
12831283 the termination of parental rights proceeding. 862
12841284 2. All information required by the Uniform Child Custody 863
12851285 Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act and the Indian Child Welfare 864
12861286 Act. 865
12871287 3. A statement of the grounds under s. 63.089 upon which 866
12881288 the petition is based. 867
12891289 4. The name, address, and telephone number of any adoption 868
12901290 entity seeking to place the child minor for adoption. 869
12911291 5. The name, address, and telephone number of the division 870
12921292 of the circuit court in which the petition is to be filed. 871
12931293 6. A certification that the petitioner will comply of 872
12941294 compliance with the requirements of s. 63.0425 regarding notice 873
12951295 to grandparents of an impending adoption. 874
12961296 7. A copy of the original birth certificate of the child 875
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13051305 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
13061306
13071307
13081308
13091309 must be attached to the petition or filed with the court before 876
13101310 the final hearing on the petition to terminate parental rights. 877
13111311 Section 9. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and subsection 878
13121312 (4) of section 63.089, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 879
13131313 63.089 Proceeding to terminate parental rights pending 880
13141314 adoption; hearing; grounds; dismissal of petition; judgment. — 881
13151315 (2) HEARING PREREQUISITES. —The court may hold the hearing 882
13161316 only when: 883
13171317 (b) For each notice and petition that must be served under 884
13181318 ss. 63.087 and 63.088: 885
13191319 1. At least 20 days have elapsed since the date of 886
13201320 personal service and an affidavit of service has been filed with 887
13211321 the court; 888
13221322 2. At least 30 days have elapsed since the first date of 889
13231323 publication of constructive service and an affidavit of service 890
13241324 has been filed with the court; or 891
13251325 3. An affidavit of no npaternity, consent to for adoption, 892
13261326 or other document that affirmatively waives service and notice 893
13271327 of the hearing has been executed and filed with the court. 894
13281328 (4) FINDING OF ABANDONMENT. —A finding of abandonment 895
13291329 resulting in a termination of parental rig hts must be based upon 896
13301330 clear and convincing evidence that a parent or person having 897
13311331 legal custody has abandoned the child in accordance with the 898
13321332 definition of abandoned contained in s. 63.032. A finding of 899
13331333 abandonment may also be based upon emotional abuse ; or a failure 900
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13421342 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
13431343
13441344
13451345
13461346 refusal to provide reasonable financial support, when able, to a 901
13471347 birth mother during her pregnancy or to the child after his or 902
13481348 her birth; or on whether the person alleged to have abandoned 903
13491349 the child, while being able, failed to establish co ntact with 904
13501350 the child or accept responsibility for the child's welfare. 905
13511351 (a) In making a determination of abandonment at a hearing 906
13521352 for termination of parental rights under this chapter, the court 907
13531353 shall consider, among other relevant factors not inconsisten t 908
13541354 with this section, all of the following : 909
13551355 1. Whether the actions alleged to constitute abandonment 910
13561356 demonstrate a willful disregard for the safety or welfare of the 911
13571357 child or the unborn child .; 912
13581358 2. Whether the person alleged to have abandoned the child, 913
13591359 while being able, failed to provide financial support .; 914
13601360 3. Whether the person alleged to have abandoned the child, 915
13611361 while being able, failed to pay for medical treatment .; and 916
13621362 4. Whether the amount of support provided or medical 917
13631363 expenses paid was appropriate, taking into consideration the 918
13641364 needs of the child and relative means and resources available to 919
13651365 the person alleged to have abandoned the child. 920
13661366 (b) The child has been abandoned when the parent of a 921
13671367 child is or was incarcerated on or after Oct ober 1, 2001, in a 922
13681368 federal, state, or county correctional institution and: 923
13691369 1. The period of time for which the parent has been or is 924
13701370 expected to be incarcerated will constitute a significant 925
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13791379 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
13801380
13811381
13821382
13831383 portion of the child's minority. In determining whether the 926
13841384 period of time is significant, the court shall consider the 927
13851385 child's age and the child's need for a permanent and stable 928
13861386 home. The period of time begins on the date that the parent 929
13871387 enters into incarceration; 930
13881388 2. The incarcerated parent has been determined by a court 931
13891389 of competent jurisdiction to be a violent career criminal as 932
13901390 defined in s. 775.084, a habitual violent felony offender as 933
13911391 defined in s. 775.084, convicted of child abuse as defined in s. 934
13921392 827.03, or a sexual predator as defined in s. 775.21; has bee n 935
13931393 convicted of first degree or second degree murder in violation 936
13941394 of s. 782.04 or a sexual battery that constitutes a capital, 937
13951395 life, or first degree felony violation of s. 794.011; or has 938
13961396 been convicted of a substantially similar offense in another 939
13971397 jurisdiction. As used in this section, the term "substantially 940
13981398 similar offense" means any offense that is substantially similar 941
13991399 in elements and penalties to one of those listed in this 942
14001400 subparagraph, and that is in violation of a law of any other 943
14011401 jurisdiction, whether that of another state, the District of 944
14021402 Columbia, the United States or any possession or territory 945
14031403 thereof, or any foreign jurisdiction; or 946
14041404 3. The court determines by clear and convincing evidence 947
14051405 that continuing the parental relationship with the inc arcerated 948
14061406 parent would be harmful to the child and, for this reason, 949
14071407 termination of the parental rights of the incarcerated parent is 950
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14161416 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
14171417
14181418
14191419
14201420 in the best interests of the child. 951
14211421 Section 10. Subsection (2) of section 63.122, Florida 952
14221422 Statutes, is amended to read : 953
14231423 63.122 Notice of hearing on petition. — 954
14241424 (2) Notice of hearing must be given as prescribed by the 955
14251425 Florida Family Law Rules of Civil Procedure, and service of 956
14261426 process must be made as specified by law for civil actions. 957
14271427 Section 11. Subsection (1) and paragraph (b) of subsection 958
14281428 (3) of section 63.132, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 959
14291429 63.132 Affidavit of expenses and receipts. — 960
14301430 (1) Before the hearing on the petition for adoption, the 961
14311431 prospective adoptive parent and any adoption entity must fil e 962
14321432 two copies of an affidavit under this section. 963
14331433 (a) The affidavit must be signed by the adoption entity 964
14341434 and the prospective adoptive parents. A copy of the affidavit 965
14351435 must be provided to the adoptive parents at the time the 966
14361436 affidavit is executed. 967
14371437 (b) The affidavit must itemize all disbursements and 968
14381438 receipts of anything of value, including professional and legal 969
14391439 fees, made or agreed to be made by or on behalf of the 970
14401440 prospective adoptive parent and any adoption entity in 971
14411441 connection with the adoption or in connection with any prior 972
14421442 proceeding to terminate parental rights which involved the child 973
14431443 minor who is the subject of the petition for adoption. The 974
14441444 affidavit must also include, for each hourly legal or counseling 975
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14531453 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
14541454
14551455
14561456
14571457 fee itemized, the service provided for w hich the hourly fee is 976
14581458 being charged, the date the service was provided, the time 977
14591459 required to provide the service if the service was charged by 978
14601460 the hour, the person or entity that provided the service, and 979
14611461 the hourly fee charged. 980
14621462 (c) The affidavit must s how any expenses or receipts 981
14631463 incurred in connection with: 982
14641464 1. The birth of the child minor. 983
14651465 2. The placement of the child minor with the petitioner. 984
14661466 3. The medical or hospital care received by the mother or 985
14671467 by the child minor during the mother's prena tal care and 986
14681468 confinement. 987
14691469 4. The living expenses of the birth mother. The living 988
14701470 expenses must be itemized in detail to apprise the court of the 989
14711471 exact expenses incurred. 990
14721472 5. The services relating to the adoption or to the 991
14731473 placement of the child minor for adoption that were received by 992
14741474 or on behalf of the petitioner, the adoption entity, either 993
14751475 parent, the child minor, or any other person. 994
14761476 995
14771477 The affidavit must state whether any of these expenses were paid 996
14781478 for by collateral sources, including, but not limit ed to, health 997
14791479 insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, or public assistance. 998
14801480 (3) The court must issue a separate order approving or 999
14811481 disapproving the fees, costs, and expenses itemized in the 1000
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14901490 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
14911491
14921492
14931493
14941494 affidavit. The court may approve only fees, costs, and 1001
14951495 expenditures allowed under s. 63.097. The court may reject in 1002
14961496 whole or in part any fee, cost, or expenditure listed if the 1003
14971497 court finds that the expense is: 1004
14981498 (b) Not supported by a receipt , if requested in the 1005
14991499 record, if the expense is not a fee of the adoption entity; or 1006
15001500 Section 12. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section 1007
15011501 63.212, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1008
15021502 63.212 Prohibited acts; penalties for violation. — 1009
15031503 (1) It is unlawful for any person: 1010
15041504 (c) To sell or surrender, or to arrange for the sale or 1011
15051505 surrender of, a child minor to another person for money or 1012
15061506 anything of value or to receive such minor child for such 1013
15071507 payment or thing of value. If a child minor is being adopted by 1014
15081508 a relative or by a stepparent, or is being adopted through an 1015
15091509 adoption entity, this paragraph does not prohibit the person who 1016
15101510 is contemplating adopting the child from paying, under ss. 1017
15111511 63.097 and 63.132, the actual prenatal care and living expenses 1018
15121512 of the mother of the child to be adopted, or from paying, under 1019
15131513 ss. 63.097 and 63.132, the actual living and medical expenses of 1020
15141514 such mother for a reasonable time, not to exceed 6 weeks, if 1021
15151515 medical needs require such support, after the birth of the child 1022
15161516 minor. 1023
15171517 Section 13. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section 1024
15181518 39.4021, Florida Stat utes, is amended to read: 1025
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15271527 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
15281528
15291529
15301530
15311531 39.4021 Priority placement for out -of-home placements.— 1026
15321532 (2) PLACEMENT PRIORITY. — 1027
15331533 (c) Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, a 1028
15341534 change to a child's physical or legal placement after the child 1029
15351535 has been sheltered but before the child has achieved permanency 1030
15361536 must be made in compliance with this section. Placements made 1031
15371537 pursuant to s. 63.083 s. 63.082(6) are exempt from this section. 1032
15381538 Section 14. Paragraph (d) of subsection (5) of section 1033
15391539 39.4022, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1034
15401540 39.4022 Multidisciplinary teams; staffings; assessments; 1035
15411541 report.— 1036
15421542 (5) SCOPE OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM. — 1037
15431543 (d) This section does not apply to placements made 1038
15441544 pursuant to s. 63.083 s. 63.082(6). 1039
15451545 Section 15. Subsection (6) of section 39.4023, Florida 1040
15461546 Statutes, is amended to read: 1041
15471547 39.4023 Placement and education transitions; transition 1042
15481548 plans.— 1043
15491549 (6) EXEMPTION.—Placements made pursuant to s. 63.083 s. 1044
15501550 63.082(6) are exempt from this section. 1045
15511551 Section 16. Subsection (7) of section 39 .4024, Florida 1046
15521552 Statutes, is amended to read: 1047
15531553 39.4024 Placement of siblings; visitation; continuing 1048
15541554 contact.— 1049
15551555 (7) EXEMPTION.—Placements made pursuant to s. 63.083 s. 1050
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15641564 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
15651565
15661566
15671567
15681568 63.082(6) are exempt from this section. 1051
15691569 Section 17. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and paragraph 1052
15701570 (a) of subsection (3) of section 39.522, Florida Statutes, are 1053
15711571 amended to read: 1054
15721572 39.522 Postdisposition change of custody. — 1055
15731573 (2) 1056
15741574 (b) Upon the admission of a need for a change or after 1057
15751575 such hearing, the court shall enter an order changing the 1058
15761576 placement, modifying the conditions of protective supervision, 1059
15771577 or continuing the conditions of protective supervision as 1060
15781578 ordered. The standard for changing custody of the child shall be 1061
15791579 the best interests of the child. When determining whether a 1062
15801580 change of legal custody or placement is in the best interests of 1063
15811581 the child, the court shall consider the factors listed in s. 1064
15821582 39.01375 and the report filed by the multidisciplinary team, if 1065
15831583 applicable, unless the change of custody or placement is made 1066
15841584 pursuant to s. 63.083 s. 63.082(6). The court shall also 1067
15851585 consider the priority of placements established under s. 39.4021 1068
15861586 when making a decision regarding the best interest of the child 1069
15871587 in out-of-home care. 1070
15881588 (3)(a) For purposes of this subsection, the term "change 1071
15891589 in physical custody" means a change by the department or 1072
15901590 community-based care lead agency to the child's physical 1073
15911591 residential address, regardless of whether such change requires 1074
15921592 a court order to change the legal custody of the child. However, 1075
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16011601 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
16021602
16031603
16041604
16051605 this term does not include a change in placement made pursuant 1076
16061606 to s. 63.083 s. 63.082(6). 1077
16071607 Section 18. Subsection (5) of section 39.812, Florida 1078
16081608 Statutes, is amended to read: 1079
16091609 39.812 Postdisposition relief; petition for adoption. — 1080
16101610 (5) The petition for adoption mu st be filed in the 1081
16111611 division of the circuit court which entered the judgment 1082
16121612 terminating parental rights, unless a motion for change of venue 1083
16131613 is granted pursuant to s. 47.122. A copy of the consent executed 1084
16141614 by the department must be attached to the petition , unless 1085
16151615 waived pursuant to s. 63.062(8) s. 63.062(7). The petition must 1086
16161616 be accompanied by a statement, signed by the prospective 1087
16171617 adoptive parents, acknowledging receipt of all information 1088
16181618 required to be disclosed under s. 63.085 and a form provided by 1089
16191619 the department which details the social and medical history of 1090
16201620 the child and each parent and includes the social security 1091
16211621 number and date of birth for each parent, if such information is 1092
16221622 available or readily obtainable. The prospective adoptive 1093
16231623 parents may not file a petition for adoption until the judgment 1094
16241624 terminating parental rights becomes final. An adoption 1095
16251625 proceeding under this subsection is governed by chapter 63. 1096
16261626 Section 19. Subsection (5) of section 63.093, Florida 1097
16271627 Statutes, is amended to read: 1098
16281628 63.093 Adoption of children from the child welfare 1099
16291629 system.— 1100
16301630
16311631 HB 1099 2023
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16331633
16341634
16351635 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
16361636 hb1099-00
16371637 Page 45 of 45
16381638 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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16401640
16411641
16421642 (5) At the conclusion of the adoptive home study and 1101
16431643 preparation process, a decision shall be made about the 1102
16441644 prospective adoptive parent's appropriateness to adopt. This 1103
16451645 decision shall be reflect ed in the final recommendation included 1104
16461646 in the adoptive home study. If the recommendation is for 1105
16471647 approval, the adoptive parent application file must be submitted 1106
16481648 to the community-based care lead agency or its subcontracted 1107
16491649 agency for approval. The communit y-based care lead agency or its 1108
16501650 subcontracted agency must approve or deny the home study within 1109
16511651 14 business days after receipt of the recommendation. 1110
16521652 1111
16531653 Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), this section does not 1112
16541654 apply to a child adopted through the proce ss provided in s. 1113
16551655 63.083 s. 63.082(6). 1114
16561656 Section 20. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 1115