AB 1701 Summary

• Authorizes birth mothers to bring actions declaring existence or nonexistence of presumed parent-child relationships and requires courts to join licensed California adoption agencies to which mothers propose to relinquish children.

• Permits single petitions to terminate parental rights of multiple alleged fathers of the same child or of biological siblings, and to free biological siblings from parental custody in one proceeding, with court discretion to bifurcate when necessary.

• Allows prospective adoptive parents to appear in adoption proceedings by telephone, videoconference, or other remote electronic means instead of requiring in-person appearance when impracticable.

• Streamlines independent adoption procedures by permitting agencies to forego reinvestigation of matters covered in valid preplacement evaluations or home studies if no new information warrants further investigation, while still requiring all background clearances.

• Authorizes courts to issue temporary custody orders to licensed private adoption agencies or approved prospective adoptive parents when birth mothers leave children in their care but fail to sign placement agreements or consents, with orders voiding upon mother's request for return of the child.