STATEMENT TO

 

[Second Reprint]

SENATE, No. 818

 

with Senate Floor Amendments

(Proposed By Senator EWING)

 

ADOPTED: JUNE 19, 1997

 

      This floor amendment to Senate Bill No. 818 (2R) would require, that in order for the father to receive notice of an adoption, he would be required to amend the child's original birth certificate filed with the local registrar in the municipality of the child's birth prior to or within 60 days of the child's birth. The amendment would also require the Department of Health and Senior Services to adopt rules and regulations publicizing this requirement throughout the State.

      The provisions of the floor amendment would also allow that the notice of adoption be waived by the court if a person, named as a parent on an original certificate of birth of a child being adopted, has not amended the original certificate of birth within 60 days of the child's birth.

      Finally, the provisions of the floor amendments would allow the court to enter a judgment of adoption over the objection of a person who is entitled to notice pursuant to section 9 of P.L.1977, c.367 (C.9:3-45), if the court finds that, within 60 days of the birth of a child placed for adoption as a newborn infant, the parent has substantially failed to perform the regular and expected parental functions of care and support of the child.