Legislature(1995 - 1996)
1995-03-07 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf1995-03-07 Senate Journal Page 0519 SB 116 SENATE BILL NO. 116 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: "An Act relating to administrative establishment of paternity and establishing paternity by affidavit; relating to child support enforcement; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Health, Education and Social Services, Judiciary and Finance Committees. Fiscal notes published today from Department of Revenue, Department of Health and Social Services. Zero fiscal notes published today from Department of Health and Social Services, Department of Law. Governor's transmittal letter dated March 6: Dear President Pearce: 1995-03-07 Senate Journal Page 0520 SB 116 Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to the administrative determination of paternity by the Department of Revenue, child support enforcement division (CSED) and addressing the establishment of paternity based on voluntary acknowledgement of paternity by appropriate parties. The bill would amend relevant portions of the laws currently found in AS 25.27 to allow CSED to administratively determine the paternity of children. The bill also amends AS18.50.160, relating to the identification of parents on birth certificates by voluntary acknowledgement. The bill does not affect any existing court rules. Under recent federal regulations adopted in December 1994, time frames for the establishment of paternity and support orders have been significantly shortened. In order to determine how best to meet these deadlines, CSED has reviewed the relevant Alaska statutes and its administrative procedures to identify areas that could be handled more efficiently than under the current state statutes and regulations. One such area is the determination of paternity. Under current state law, such determinations may only be made by a court. This bill establishes a procedure by which CSED may determine paternity administratively, without resort to the courts. Under the proposed statute changes, CSED may initiate an administrative proceeding to determine paternity upon application of the child's mother or guardian or upon application of the State of Alaska or of another state. The proceeding is initiated through service of a Notice of Paternity and Financial Responsibility, together with an administrative order requiring the parties to submit to genetic testing. Unless paternity is admitted or the alleged father fails to respond to the notice, CSED's determination of paternity will be based upon the results of the genetic testing and other evidence. In conjunction with the paternity proceeding, CSED also may establish the amount of the support obligation, which CSED is already permitted to do under existing law. Through an appeal process, the bill safeguards the alleged father's rights with respect to the determination of paternity. Once CSED has issued its finding of paternity, the alleged father may request a formal hearing, after which the alleged father also will be entitled to judicial review if a timely appeal is filed with the superior court. 1995-03-07 Senate Journal Page 0521 SB 116 The bill amends the state law relating to the identification of parents on a child's birth certificate. The bill would allow the Bureau of Vital Statistics to enter a father's name on a child's birth certificate based on voluntary acknowledgements of paternity by the appropriate parties. If the child was born in wedlock (and, thus, the mother's husband is the legally presumed father), affidavits must be provided by the mother, her husband, and the alleged father, attesting that the husband is not the child's father and that the alleged father is the father of the child. If the child was born out of wedlock, affidavits are needed only from the mother and the alleged father, attesting that the alleged father is the child's father. The bill also recognizes the growing use of administrative procedures in addition to or in place of judicial proceedings in the establishment of paternity and the establishment and enforcement of support orders. The changes proposed in the bill are intended to increase the efficiency of the child support enforcement process by allowing CSED and, in certain cases the parties themselves, to determine the paternity of children. I urge prompt consideration and passage of this bill. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor