HOUSE BILL No. 4662

 

May 2, 2013, Introduced by Reps. Kowall, Kurtz and Shirkey and referred to the Committee on Families, Children, and Seniors.

 

     A bill to amend 1939 PA 288, entitled

 

"Probate code of 1939,"

 

by amending section 37 of chapter X (MCL 710.37).

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

CHAPTER X

 

     Sec. 37. (1) If Except as provided in subsection (2) for a

 

child born on or before September 30, 2014, if the court has proof

 

that the person whom it determines pursuant to under section 36 of

 

this chapter to be the child's father of the child was timely

 

served with a notice of intent to release or consent pursuant to

 

under section 34(1) of this chapter or was served with or waived

 

the notice of hearing required by section 36(3) of this chapter,

 

the court may permanently terminate the putative father's parental

 

rights of the putative father under any of the following

 

circumstances:


 

     (a) The putative father submits a verified affirmation of his

 

paternity and a denial of his interest in custody of the child.

 

     (b) The putative father files a disclaimer of paternity. For

 

purposes of this section the filing of the disclaimer of paternity

 

shall constitute is a waiver of notice of hearing and shall

 

constitute is a denial of his interest in custody of the child.

 

     (c) The putative father was served with a notice of intent to

 

release or consent in accordance with section 34(1) of this

 

chapter, at least 30 days before the expected date of confinement

 

specified in that notice but failed to file an intent to claim

 

paternity either before the expected date of confinement or before

 

the birth of the child.

 

     (d) The putative father is given proper notice of hearing in

 

accordance with section 36(3) or 36(5) of this chapter but either

 

fails to appear at the hearing or appears and denies his interest

 

in custody of the child.

 

     (2) For a child born on or after October 1, 2014, if the court

 

is notified that the person whom it determines to be the child's

 

father has not filed in a timely manner with the responsible father

 

registry, the court may permanently terminate the putative father's

 

parental rights.

 

     (3) (2) If For a child born on or before September 30, 2014,

 

if the identity of the father cannot be determined, or if the

 

identity of the father is known but his whereabouts cannot be

 

determined, the court shall take evidence to determine the facts in

 

the matter. The court may terminate the putative father's parental

 

rights of the putative father if the court finds from the evidence


 

that reasonable effort has been made to identify and locate the

 

father and that any either of the following circumstances

 

exist:exists:

 

     (a) The putative father, whose identity is not known, has not

 

made provision for the child's care and did not provide support for

 

the mother during her pregnancy or during her confinement.

 

     (b) The putative father, whose identity is known but whose

 

whereabouts are unknown, has not provided support for the mother,

 

has not shown any interest in the child, and has not made provision

 

for the child's care, for at least 90 days preceding the hearing

 

required under section 36 of this chapter.

 

     (4) For a child born on or after October 1, 2014, if the

 

putative father has not registered with the responsible father

 

registry, the court may terminate the putative father's parental

 

rights.