2016 -- H 7029 SUBSTITUTE A

========

LC003294/SUB A

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- ADOPTION OF CHILDREN

     

     Introduced By: Representative Anastasia P. Williams

     Date Introduced: January 07, 2016

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1

     SECTION 1. Section 15-7-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 15-7 entitled "Adoption of

2

Children" is hereby amended to read as follows:

3

     15-7-5. Consent required. -- (a) The parents of the child, or their survivor, shall, except

4

as provided in this section, consent in writing to the adoption, or the petition shall be dismissed. If

5

neither parent is living, the guardian of the person of the child, or, if there is no guardian, the next

6

of kin, may give consent; or if there is no next of kin, the court may appoint some suitable person

7

to act in the proceedings as next friend of the child, and to give or withhold the consent; provided,

8

that if the child is of the age of fourteen (14) years or over, the adoption shall not be made

9

without the child's consent. In case the child to be adopted is eighteen (18) years or older, the

10

consent of, or notice to, the child's parents or other person in the child's behalf shall not be

11

required.

12

      (b) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, when the

13

petitioners are one of the natural parents of the child and his or her spouse or one of the

14

grandparents of the child and the child is residing, at the time the petition is filed, with the

15

petitioners, if the noncustodial parent refused to consent to the adoption, the court shall determine

16

whether the noncustodial parent's rights shall be terminated involuntarily. In making the

17

determination, the court shall apply the grounds for termination of parental rights set forth in §

18

15-7-7; provided, that the petitioners need not demonstrate, and the court shall not require, efforts

19

to encourage and strengthen the child's relationship with the noncustodial parent prior to

 

1

terminating his or her parental rights.

2

      (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, when the

3

petitioners are one of the natural parents of the child and his or her spouse or one of the

4

grandparents of the child and the child is residing, at the time the petition is filed, with the

5

petitioners, and if the noncustodial parent refuses to consent to the adoption, then the court may

6

grant the petition without a noncustodial parent's consent if the petitioners prove by clear and

7

convincing evidence any of the grounds set forth in § 15-7-7(a)(1), (2), or (4). The standard of

8

proof in these cases shall be by clear and convincing evidence and the court shall give primary

9

consideration to the physical, psychological, mental, and intellectual needs of the child insofar as

10

that consideration is not inconsistent with other provisions of this chapter.

11

     (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, when the petitioner is

12

a grandparent with placement or guardianship of the child, and with whom the child is residing at

13

the time the petition is filed, if the natural parents or their survivor refuses to consent to the

14

adoption, the court shall determine whether the natural parents' or their survivor's rights shall be

15

terminated involuntarily. In making the determination, the court shall apply the grounds for

16

termination of parental rights set forth in §15-7-7. In addition, when the petitioner is a

17

grandparent with placement or guardianship of the child, and with whom the child is residing at

18

the time the petition is filed, if the natural parents or their survivor refuse to consent to the

19

adoption, then the court may grant the petition without the natural parents' or their survivor's

20

consent if the petitioner proves by clear and convincing evidence any of the grounds set forth in

21

§§15-7-7(a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(4). The standard of proof in these cases shall be by clear and

22

convincing evidence and the court shall give primary consideration to the physical, psychological,

23

mental, and intellectual needs of the child insofar as that consideration is not inconsistent with

24

other provisions of this chapter.

25

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC003294/SUB A

========

 

LC003294/SUB A - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- ADOPTION OF CHILDREN

***

1

     This act would permit a petition for adoption, and if necessary, termination of parental

2

rights, to be filed by a grandparent(s) without the noncustodial parents' consent, when the child is

3

in the sole custody of the grandparent(s).

4

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC003294/SUB A

========

 

LC003294/SUB A - Page 3 of 3