HB 1237 Summary

• Defines "legal father" as a man married to the mother at conception or birth, or a man named on birth certificate, determined by court order, or determined by administrative proceeding to be the father.

• Requires courts to conduct inquiries under oath at shelter hearings and dependency proceedings regarding the identity and location of the legal father, including questions about the mother's marital status, cohabitation, support payments, and paternity acknowledgments.

• Mandates searches of the Florida Putative Father Registry and allows courts to order scientific testing to determine maternity or paternity; permits courts to proceed without further notice if diligent search fails to locate a prospective parent.

• Allows courts to make supplemental findings against a second parent based solely on demonstration of risk of harm by the Department of Children and Families, without requiring proof of actual abuse or neglect.

• Expands grounds for termination of parental rights to include out-of-home placements of a child or sibling on three or more occasions under substantially similar laws of jurisdictions outside Florida.

• Effective July 1, 2016.