HOUSE BILL NO. 4472

April 17, 2019, Introduced by Reps. Brixie, Sneller, Hoadley, Ellison, Manoogian, Hood, Hertel, Elder, Clemente, Cherry, Rabhi, Gay-Dagnogo, Sowerby, Guerra, Lasinski, Cambensy, Chirkun and Jones and referred to the Committee on Families, Children, and Seniors.

"Probate code of 1939,"

by amending sections 24, 41, and 51 of chapter X (MCL 710.24, 710.41, and 710.51), section 24 as amended by 2016 PA 191, section 41 as amended by 1994 PA 222, and section 51 as amended by 2016 PA 143.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

CHAPTER X

Sec. 24. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, if a person who desires to adopt a child or an adult and to bestow upon the adoptee his or her family name, or to adopt a child or an adult without a name change, with the intent to make the adoptee his or her heir, that person, together with his or her spouse, if married, shall file a petition with the court. of If the petitioner is married, the petitioner's spouse must join in the petition. Two unmarried persons may petition to adopt a child by filing a petition under this section.

(2) The petition must be filed in the county in which the petitioner resides, where the adoptee is found, or , where the parent's parental rights were terminated or are pending termination. If both parents' parental rights were terminated at different times and in different courts, a petition filed under this section shall must be filed in the court of the county where parental rights were first terminated. If there has been a temporary placement of the child, the petition for adoption shall must be filed with the court that received the report described in section 23d(2) of this chapter.

(3) (2) Notwithstanding any other provision in this section, the court may allow either of the following to occur:

(a) A married individual to adopt an adult without his or her spouse joining in the petition if all of the interested parties consent.

(b) A married individual to adopt without his or her spouse joining in the petition if the failure of the other spouse to join in the petition or to consent to the adoption is excused by the court for good cause shown or in the best interest of the child.

(4) (3) In an adoption proceeding in which there is more than 1 applicant, the petition for adoption shall must be filed with the court of the county where the parent's parental rights were terminated or are pending termination. If both parents' parental rights were terminated at different times and in different courts, a petition filed under this section shall must be filed in the court of the county where parental rights were first terminated.

(5) (4) The petition for adoption shall be verified by each petitioner and shall contain the following information:

(a) The name, date and place of birth, and place of residence of each petitioner, including the maiden name of the adopting mother.petitioner.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (7), (8), the name, date and place of birth, and place of residence if known of the adoptee.

(d) The full name by which the adoptee shall be known after adoption.

(e) The full description of the property, if any, of the adoptee.

(f) Unless the rights of the parents have been terminated by a court of competent jurisdiction or except as otherwise provided in subsection (7), (8), the names of the parents of the adoptee and the place of residence of each living parent if known.

(g) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (7), (8), the name and place of residence of the guardian of the person or estate of the adoptee, if any has been appointed.

(6) (5) In a direct placement, the petitioner shall attach to the petition a verified statement certifying that the petitioner has been informed of the availability of counseling services and whether the petitioner has received counseling.

(7) (6) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, in a direct placement, the petitioner shall attach a copy of a preplacement assessment of the petitioner completed or updated within 1 year before the petition is filed with a finding that the petitioner is suitable to be a parent of an adoptee, copies of all other preplacement assessments of the petitioner, if any others have been completed, and a verified statement stating that no preplacement assessments of the petitioner have been completed other than those attached to the petition and explaining any preplacement assessments of the petitioner that have been initiated but not completed. If the petitioner is seeking review of a preplacement assessment under section 23f(8) 23f(9) of this chapter, the petitioner may comply with this subsection by attaching a copy of that preplacement assessment and a copy of the application for review, together with copies of all other preplacement assessments and the verified statement required by this section.

(8) (7) In a direct placement in which the parties have elected not to exchange identifying information, the information required by subsection (4)(f) (5)(f) and (g) and the surname and place of residence of the adoptee required under subsection (4)(b) (5)(b) may be omitted. The attorney or child placing agency assisting in the adoption shall file a verified statement containing the omitted information.

Sec. 41. (1) Except as provided in section 23d of this chapter, a child shall not be placed in a home for the purpose of adoption until an order terminating parental rights has been entered pursuant to under this chapter, chapter XII, or chapter XIIA and the court has formally approved placement under section 51 of this chapter. After an order terminating parental rights has been entered, the court shall enter any appropriate orders pursuant according to sections 45, 46, and 51 of this chapter. Such orders shall not be withheld because the period specified for a rehearing or an appeal as of right has not expired, or because of the pendency of any rehearing or appeal as of right.

(2) If an order terminating parental rights is entered pursuant to under this chapter, chapter XII, or chapter XIIA, the child may be placed in a home for the purpose of adoption during the period specified for a rehearing or an appeal as of right and the period during which a rehearing or appeal as of right is pending. When a child placing agency, the court, or the department formally places a child or the court approves placement of a child pursuant according to this subsection, the child placing agency, court, or department shall inform the person or persons in whose home the child is placed that an adoption will not be ordered until 1 of the following occurs:

(a) The petition for rehearing is granted, at the rehearing the order terminating parental rights is not modified or set aside, and subsequently the period for appeal as of right to the court of appeals has expired without an appeal being filed.

(b) The petition for rehearing is denied and the period for appeal as of right to the court of appeals has expired without an appeal being filed.

(3) This section shall does not be construed to prevent a child residing in a licensed foster home from being adopted by the foster parent or parents.

(4) This section does not apply if the petitioner for adoption is married to or has joined in an adoption petition with a parent having legal custody of the child.

Sec. 51. (1) Not later than 14 days after receipt of the report of investigation, except as provided in subsections (2) and (5), the judge shall examine the report and shall enter an order terminating the rights of the child's parent or parents, if there was a parental consent, or the rights of any person in loco parentis, if there was a consent by other than parents, and approve placement of the child with the petitioner if the judge is satisfied as to both of the following:

(a) The genuineness of consent to the adoption and the legal authority of the person or persons signing the consent.

(b) The best interests of the adoptee will be served by the adoption.

(2) If it is necessary to hold a hearing before entering an order terminating the rights of a parent, parents, or a person in loco parentis, or if other good cause is shown, the time specified in subsection (1) shall be extended for an additional 14-day period.

(3) Upon entry of an order terminating rights of parents or persons in loco parentis, a child is a ward of the court and a consent to adoption executed under section 43 of this chapter shall not be withdrawn after the order is entered. Entry of the order terminates the jurisdiction of the same court or another court over the child in a divorce or separate maintenance action. If the petitioner for adoption is married to or has joined in an adoption petition with the parent having legal custody of the child, the child shall not be made a ward of the court after termination of the rights of the other parent.

(4) Without making the child a ward of the court, the court may approve placement of a child if the child is placed for adoption in this state by a public or licensed private agency of another state or country and if the law of the sending state or country prohibits the giving of consent to adoption at the time of placement. Before placement of the child in that instance, the sending agency shall tender evidence as the court requires to demonstrate that the sending agency possesses the necessary authority to consent to the adoption at the time of entry of the final order of adoption. After the sending agency has given evidence of its ability to consent, the agency shall not do anything to jeopardize its ability to grant the required consent before entry of the final order of adoption. After the sending agency gives its consent for the adoption, that consent shall not be withdrawn.

(5) If a parent having legal custody of the child is married to or has joined in an adoption petition with the petitioner, for adoption, the judge shall not enter an order terminating the rights of that parent.

(6) If the parents of a child are divorced, or if the parents are unmarried but the father has acknowledged paternity or is a putative father who meets the conditions in section 39(2) of this chapter, and if a parent having custody of the child according to a court order subsequently marries and that parent's person's spouse petitions to adopt the child or the person having custody of the child according to a court order petitions for adoption under section 24(1) of this chapter, the court upon notice and hearing may issue an order terminating the rights of the other parent if both of the following occur:

(a) The other parent, having the ability to support, or assist in supporting, the child, has failed or neglected to provide regular and substantial support for the child or if a support order has been entered, has failed to substantially comply with the order, for a period of 2 years or more before the filing of the petition. A child support order stating that support is $0.00 or that support is reserved shall be treated in the same manner as if no support order has been entered.

(b) The other parent, having the ability to visit, contact, or communicate with the child, has regularly and substantially failed or neglected to do so for a period of 2 years or more before the filing of the petition.

(7) Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the prospective adoptive parents with whom a child is placed according to a court order approving placement under this section may consent to all medical, surgical, psychological, educational, and related services for the child.

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days after the date it is enacted into law.