BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.98
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H.98
IntroducedbyRepresentativesRachelsonofBurlington,Arsenaultof
Williston,ChristieofHartford,GoodnowofBrattleboro,
HeadrickofBurlington,andLaLondeofSouthBurlington
ReferredtoCommitteeon
Date:
Subject:Adoption;confirmatoryadoption
Statementofpurposeofbillasintroduced:Thisbillproposestoestablishan
expeditedconfirmatoryadoptionprocessforparentswhoconceivedachild
throughassistedreproductionandareparentsunderStatelaw.
Anactrelatingtoconfirmatoryadoptions
ItisherebyenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyoftheStateofVermont:
Sec.1.15AV.S.A.§1-114isaddedtoread:
§ 1-114.CONFIRMATORY ADOPTIONFORCHILDRENBORN
THROUGHASSISTEDREPRODUCTION
(a)Asusedinthissection:
(1)“Assistedreproduction”meansamethodofcausingpregnancyother
thansexualintercourseandincludes:
(A)intrauterine,intracervical,orvaginalinsemination;
(B)donationofgametes;
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(C)donationofembryos;
(D)invitrofertilizationandtransferofembryos;and
(E)intracytoplasmicsperminjection.
(2)“Marriage”includescivilunionandanylegalrelationshipthat
providessubstantiallythesamerights,benefits,andresponsibilitiesas
marriageandisrecognizedasvalidinthestateorjurisdictioninwhichitwas
entered.
(3)“Petitioners”meansthepersonsfilingapetitionforadoptionin
accordancewiththissection.
(b)Wheneverachildisbornasaresultofassistedreproductionandthe
personorpersonswhodidnotgivebirthareaparentpursuantto15CV.S.A.
§ 703orpresumedparentpursuantto15C V.S.A.§ 401andtheparentsseekto
fileapetitiontoconfirmparentagethroughanadoptionofthechild,thecourt
shallpermittheparentstofileapetitionforadoptioninaccordancewiththis
section.
(c)Acompletepetitionshallcomprisethefollowing:
(1)thepetitionforadoptionsignedbyallparties;
(2)acopyofthepetitioners’marriagecertificate,ifpetitionersare
married;
(3)adeclarationsignedbythepersonwhogavebirthandtheperson
whodidnotgivebirthexplainingthecircumstancesofthechild’sbirth
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throughassistedreproduction,attestingtotheirconsenttoassisted
reproduction,andattestingthatnocompetingclaimsofparentageexist;and
(4)acertifiedcopyofthechild’sbirthcertificate.
(d)Acompletepetitionforadoption,asdescribedinsubsection(c)ofthis
section,shallserveasthepetitioners’writtenconsentstoadoptionandno
additionalconsentornoticeshallberequired.
(e)Ifthepetitionersconceivedthroughassistedreproductionwithdonor
gametesordonorembryospursuantto15CV.S.A.chapter7,thecourtshall
notrequirenoticeoftheadoptiontothedonororconsenttotheadoptionby
thedonor.
(f)Unlessotherwiseorderedbythecourtforgoodcauseshownand
supportedbywrittenfindingsofthecourtdemonstratinggoodcause,for
purposesofevaluatingandgrantingapetitionforadoptionpursuanttothis
section,thecourtshallnotrequire:
(1)anin-personhearingorappearance;
(2)aninvestigationorhomestudyby,anoticeto,ortheapprovalofthe
DepartmentforChildrenandFamilies;
(3)acriminal-recordcheck;
(4)verificationthatthechildisnotregisteredwiththefederalregister
formissingchildrenorthecentralregister;or
(5)aminimumresidencyperiodinthehomeofthepetitioners.
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(g)Thecourtshallgranttheadoptionunderthissectionandissuean
adoptiondecreewithin30daysuponfindingthat:
(1)formaritalparents,theparentwhogavebirthandthespousewere
marriedatthetimeofthechild’sbirthandthechildwasbornthroughassisted
reproduction;or
(2)fornonmaritalparents:
(A)thepersonwhogavebirthandthenonmaritalparentconsentedto
theassistedreproduction;and
(B)therearenocompetingclaimsofparentageorthatanyother
personwithaclaimtoparentageofthechildwhoisrequiredtobeprovided
noticeof,orwhomustconsentto,theadoptionhasbeennotifiedorprovided
consenttotheadoption.
(h)Apetitiontoadoptachildpursuanttothissectionshallnotbedenied
onthebasisthatanyofthepetitioners’parentageisalreadypresumedor
legallyrecognizedinVermont.
(i)Whenparentageispresumedorlegallyrecognizedpursuantto
15C V.S.A.§ 201,thefactthatthepartiesdidnotpetitionforadoption
pursuanttothissectionshallnotbeconsideredasevidencewhentwoormore
presumptionsconflict,norindeterminingthebestinterestsofthechild.
Sec.2.EFFECTIVEDATE
ThisactshalltakeeffectonSeptember1,2025.
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Sec.1.15AV.S.A.§1-114isaddedtoread:
§ 1-114.CONFIRMATORYADOPTIONFORCHILDRENBORN
THROUGHASSISTEDREPRODUCTION
(a)Asusedinthissection:
(1)“Assistedreproduction”meansamethodofcausingpregnancyother
thansexualintercourseandincludes:
(A)intrauterine,intracervical,orvaginalinsemination;
(B)donationofgametes;
(C)donationofembryos;
(D)invitrofertilizationandtransferofembryos;and
(E)intracytoplasmicsperminjection.
(2)“Donor”meansapersonwhocontributesagameteorgametesor
anembryoorembryostoanotherpersonforassistedreproductionor
gestation,whetherornotforconsideration.Thistermdoesnotinclude:
(A)apersonwhogivesbirthtoachildconceivedbyassisted
reproductionexceptasotherwiseprovidedin15CV.S.A.chapter8;or
(B)aparentunder15CV.S.A.chapter7oranintendedparentunder
15CV.S.A.chapter8.
(3)“Marriage”includescivilunionandanylegalrelationshipthat
providessubstantiallythesamerights,benefits,andresponsibilitiesas BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.98
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marriageandisrecognizedasvalidinthestateorjurisdictioninwhichitwas
entered.
(4)“Petitioners”meansthepersonsfilingapetitionforadoptionin
accordancewiththissection.
(b)Wheneverachildisbornasaresultofassistedreproductionandthe
personorpersonswhodidnotgivebirthareaparentpursuantto15CV.S.A.
§ 703orpresumedparentpursuantto15C V.S.A.§ 401andtheparentsseekto
fileapetitiontoconfirmparentagethroughanadoptionofthechild,thecourt
shallpermittheparentstofileapetitionforadoptioninaccordancewiththis
section.
(c)Acompletepetitionshallcomprisethefollowing:
(1)thepetitionforadoptionsignedbyallparents;
(2)acopyofthepetitioners’marriagecertificate,ifpetitionersare
married;
(3)adeclarationsignedbytheparentsexplainingthecircumstancesof
thechild’sbirththroughassistedreproduction,attestingtotheirconsentto
assistedreproduction,andstatingthattherearenootherpersonswithaclaim
toparentageofthechildunderTitle15C;and
(4)acertifiedcopyofthechild’sbirthcertificate. BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.98
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(d)Acompletepetitionforadoption,asdescribedinsubsection(c)ofthis
section,shallserveasthepetitioners’writtenconsentstoadoptionandno
additionalconsentornoticeshallberequired.
(e)Ifthepetitionersconceivedthroughassistedreproductionwithdonor
gametesordonorembryos,thecourtshallnotrequirenoticeoftheadoptionto
thedonororconsenttotheadoptionbythedonor.
(f)Unlessotherwiseorderedbythecourtforgoodcauseshownand
supportedbywrittenfindingsofthecourtdemonstratinggoodcause,for
purposesofevaluatingandgrantingapetitionforadoptionpursuanttothis
section,thecourtshallnotrequire:
(1)anin-personhearingorappearance,althoughthecourtmayrequire
aremotehearing;
(2)aninvestigationorhomestudyby,anoticeto,ortheapprovalofthe
DepartmentforChildrenandFamilies;
(3)acriminal-recordcheck;
(4)verificationthatthechildisnotregisteredwiththefederalregister
formissingchildrenorthecentralregister;or
(5)aminimumresidencyperiodinthehomeofthepetitioners.
(g)Thecourtshallgranttheadoptionunderthissectionandissuean
adoptiondecreepromptlyafterthefilingofacompletepetitionandupon
findingthat: BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.98
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(1)formaritalparents,theparentwhogavebirthandthespousewere
marriedatthetimeofthechild’sbirthandthechildwasbornthroughassisted
reproduction;or
(2)fornonmaritalparents:
(A)thepersonwhogavebirthandthenonmaritalparentconsented
totheassistedreproduction;and
(B)nootherpersonhasaclaimtoparentagepursuanttoTitle15C
orthatanyotherpersonwithaclaimtoparentageofthechildwhoisrequired
tobeprovidednoticeof,orwhomustconsentto,theadoptionhasbeen
notifiedorprovidedconsenttotheadoption.
(h)Unlessnoticehasbeenwaivedorconsentgivenfortheadoption,a
copyofthepetitionandnoticeofaproceedingunderthissectionshallbe
serveduponanypersonentitledtonoticewithin30daysafterthepetitionis
filed.Thenoticeshallincludetheaddressandtelephonenumberofthecourt
wherethepetitionispendingandastatementthatthepersonservedwiththe
noticeandpetitionshallfileawrittenappearanceintheproceedingwithin20
daysafterserviceinordertoparticipateintheproceedingandtoreceive
furthernoticeoftheproceeding,includingnoticeofthetimeandplaceofany
hearing.Serviceofthenoticeandpetitionshallbemadeinamanner
appropriateundertheVermontRulesofProbateProcedureunlessthecourt BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.98
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otherwisedirects.Proofofserviceoneachpersonentitledtoreceivenotice
shallbeonfilewiththecourtbeforethecourtactsonthepetition.
(h)(i)Apetitiontoadoptachildpursuanttothissectionshallnotbe
deniedonthebasisthatanyofthepetitioners’parentageisalreadypresumed
orlegallyrecognizedinVermont.
(i)(j)Whenparentageispresumedorlegallyrecognizedpursuantto
15C V.S.A.§ 201,thefactthatapersondidnotpetitionforadoptionpursuant
tothissectionshallnotbeconsideredasevidencewhentwoormore
presumptionsconflict,norindeterminingthebestinterestsofthechild.
Sec.2.EFFECTIVEDATE
ThisactshalltakeeffectonJuly1,2025.