DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 507 Engrossed 2022 Regular Session Marino
Abstract: Authorizes a child's given surname to be consistent with the national custom or practice
of the mother or man whose surname may be given to the child when the mother or man
possesses both a maternal and paternal surname.
Present law provides criteria for designating a surname entered on a child's original birth certificate
under various circumstances.
Proposed law retains present law and provides that if the mother or the man whose surname may be
given to a child possesses both a maternal and paternal surname according to national custom or
practice, the surname of the child may be consistent with the national custom or practice of the
mother or man.
(Adds R.S. 40:34.2(2)(e))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure to the
original bill:
1. Make the selection of the surname consistent with national custom or practice, rather
than national law or custom.
2. Use the designation of "mother or the man whose surname may be given to the child",
rather than "parent or parents".
3. Provide that the official surname of the child may be made consistent with the national
custom or practice of the mother or man, rather than require that the child's surname be
the paternal surname of the child's father.
4. Allow the exception to apply in all instances, rather than only in instances when the
mother is married or was married within 300 days prior to the birth of the child.
5. Make the exception permissive, rather than mandatory.