Pending Legislation Related to Paternity

California AB 252:  A judgment or order establishing paternity may be set aside if genetic testing indicates that the previously established father of a child is not the biological father of the child.

Colorado SB 79:  Changes various provisions for genetic testing to determine parentage.

Georgia HB 18:  Babys Right to Know Act.  Requires genetic paternity tests when a named father denies paternity.

Illinois HB 3309:  Enacts provisions from the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act Amendments of 1996 and 2001, which provide that declining to take a genetic paternity test before signing an acknowledgement form will be proof of paternity.

Maine HB 327: Enacts provisions from the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act Amendments of 1996 and 2001, which provide that declining to take a genetic paternity test before signing an acknowledgement form will be proof of paternity.

Maryland HB 183 & SB 266:  Provides for genetic paternity testing and associated costs.

Massachusetts HB 782:  Establishes procedures for genetic paternity testing and paternity acknowledgement forms.

Massachusetts SB 1095: Any action to establish paternity commenced prior to 1970 and determined against the plaintiff for reason of insufficient scientific evidence may be re-filed, and any action to establish paternity which accrued prior to 1990 may be filed at any time during the lifetime of the parties to the action. DNA evidence shall be admissible in determination of paternity.

Massachusetts SB 1103:  Provides for acknowledgement of paternity forms and genetic paternity testing of putative fathers. Allows for challenges to child support decisions after acknowledgement forms are executed under certain conditions.

Michigan HB 4120:  A judgment or order establishing paternity may be set aside if genetic testing indicates that the previously established father of a child is not the biological father of the child.

Minnesota HB 453:  Adopts Uniform Parentage Act. Contains various provisions relating to genetic paternity tests.

Mississippi HB 1319:  Provides that a husband of a child born during a marriage may be determined to be the father if such determination is in the best interest of the child, regardless of genetic paternity test results.

New Mexico SB 824 and SB 851:  Requires genetic testing for named fathers of children born out of wedlock; provides for a genetic testing waiver attachment; provides for exceptions to the right to genetic testing for determining paternity.

Pennsylvania SB 108:  Permits paternity testing to rebut the presumption of paternity if requests for such testing are filed within five years after the birth of the child.

Rhode Island HB 5381:  Requires paternity testing for children born to unwed mothers.

South Carolina HB 3069:  Establishment of paternity pursuant to a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity could be set aside if genetic testing showed the alleged father was not, in fact, the father.

Tennessee HB 1121 and SB 522:  Any previously issued judgment for child support shall not be deemed a valid judgment and shall not be enforceable when the genetic testing proves the man not to be the biological father.

Tennessee SB 522: Allows men to challenge child support orders on the basis of genetic paternity tests but only if the man did not consent in writing to be named on the birth certificate and if he did not enter into an agreed order acknowledging paternity.

Texas HB 1461:  Requires mandatory paternity testing before a court may render an order for child support.

Texas HB 503:  Allows child support orders to be vacated if genetic paternity tests indicated that a man is not the biological father.

Texas HB 993: Permits motions to vacate court orders for child support based on genetic paternity tests.

Utah SB 132: Provides definitions for "declarant father" and "presumptive father". Allows child support orders to be vacated if genetic paternity tests indicated that a man is not the biological father.

Vermont HB 330:  Provides a parentage hearing if a man who is required to pay child support discovers genetic paternity tests prove that he is not the biological father.