HB 1355

Present law provides that one definition of "putative father"" means a biological or alleged biological father who, at the time of filing a petition to terminate parental rights or a petition to adopt a child, has not been excluded by DNA testing, is not a legal parent, and has claimed paternity. This claim can be made to the child's mother, the petitioners or their attorney, the department of children's services (""department""), a licensed child-placing agency, or a licensed clinical social worker. Additionally, the putative father must have either paid financial support to the child or mother during pregnancy or while the m o ther had physical custody of the child, or made a court filing consistent with his claim of paternity. If the putative father has notified the department of his paternity claim through the putative father registry, then he must comply with all waiver of n otice requirements and filing of a paternity petition. This bill adds that payment of financial support to or for the benefit of the child or the child's mother during the pregnancy or when the mother had physical custody of the child does not include pa yment of token financial support. ""Token financial support"" means one or more payments that constitute no more than perfunctory support or payments of such an infrequent nature or of such short duration as to merely establish minimal or insubstantial sup p ort for the child or the child's mother during the pregnancy. ADOPTION Before the entry of a final order of adoption, present law requires the following two affidavits to be filed with the proposed order:  An affidavit from the attorney for the petitioners, detailing fees for services related to the placement of the child or legal services, and any fees paid to others for securing the placement or related services.  An affidavit from the licensed child-placing agency or licensed clinical social worker who placed the child, detailing the fees charged to the adoptive parents for the child's placement, home studies, and supervision of the placement. This bill provides that a declaration made under penalty of perjury satisfies the requirement of such affidavits. PARENTAL CONSENT REQUIRED FOR TREATMENT OF MINORS Present law prohibits a healthcare provider from providing a vaccination to a minor unless the healthcare provider first receives informed consent from a parent or legal guardian of the minor. This bill clarifies that ""parent, as used in this provision, means a biological, legal, or adoptive parent or an individual who has been granted medical decision-making authority over the child under state law. ON APRIL 7, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDME NT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1052, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 adds prospective adoptive parents as a party who may consent to a vaccination on behalf of a minor."