HB 835 (2003) -  Adoption

General Bill by Mahon (CO-SPONSORS) Ambler; Anderson; Attkisson; Baxley; Benson; Berfield; Brummer; Clarke; Domino; Galvano; Gannon; Homan; Joyner; Kilmer; Planas; Reagan; Rich; Roberson, Y.; Stargel; Wishner
Adoption: Provides legislative findings and intent with respect to the rights and responsibilities of adoptive children, biological parents, and adoptive parents; provides that certain requirements do not apply to an adoption involving a relative or stepchild; provides legislative intent concerning cooperation between the Department of Children and Family Services and private adoption entities; revises definitions; provides for an award of certain fees and costs in the event of fraud or duress at the discretion of the court; requires that certain court findings of sanctionable conduct be forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General; authorizes a child-placing agency to remove an abandoned infant from a placement; revises requirements for conducting a diligent search to identify a parent of an abandoned infant; revises the period within which a judgment of termination of parental rights may be voided; revises requirements for notifying a grandparent with whom the child has resided of a hearing on a petition for termination of parental rights; deletes a requirement that the court give first priority for adoption to the grandparent under certain conditions; revises provisions governing a minor's right to communicate with siblings and other relatives; provides for postadoption communication or contact with parents whose parental rights have been terminated; deletes provisions prohibiting certain screening or testing for purposes of employment or admission into educational institutions; revises provisions specifying the entity that may be the guardian of a minor placed for an adoption; revises the responsibilities and authority of the guardian; provides requirements for the unmarried biological father to establish parental rights; creates the Florida Putative Father Registry within the Office of Vital Statistics of the Department of Health; provides requirements for registering with the Florida Putative Father Registry; directs the Department of Health to provide for an application and inform the public of the registry; provides for removal of the registrant’s name from the registry; provides rulemaking authority; revises provisions specifying the persons from whom a consent for adoption is required; provides conditions under which the consent for adoption of an unmarried biological father must be obtained; revises requirements for executing a consent for adoption and obtaining certain information concerning the child and birth parents; provides for executing an affidavit of nonpaternity prior to the birth of the child; authorizes an adoption entity to intervene as a party in interest; provides for placement of a minor when the minor is in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services; revises provisions governing the proceedings for terminating parental rights pending adoption; provides for limited notice requirements for an unmarried biological father; revises the period within which an inquiry and diligent search must be initiated; revises requirements for notice concerning the termination of parental rights; revises the individuals for whom information regarding identity is required; revises the inquiries required for diligent search; revises requirements for constructive service; revises hearing requirements and conditions under which the court may enter a judgment terminating parental rights; revises requirements for placing of a minor by an adoption entity; revises provisions relating to fees, costs, and expenses; revises the period within which a petition for adoption may be filed; provides for exceptions for adoptions of adults and adoptions by stepparents and relatives; provides requirements for the notice of the hearing on the petition for adoption; revises the period within which a home investigation report must be filed; revises conditions under which a judgment terminating parental rights is voidable; revises certain notice requirements concerning the disclosure of information pertaining to an adoption; authorizes the department to contract with more than one child-placing agency for the operation of a state adoption information center; revises acts that are unlawful pertaining to adoptions; revises conditions under which the court may sanction an adoption entity.
Effective Date: This act shall take effect May 30, 2003
Last Event: Approved by Governor; Chapter No. 2003-58; See also CS/SB 2526 (Ch. 2003-56) on Friday, May 30, 2003 9:30 AM
Date Available for Final Passage: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 1:37 PM

Referred Committees and Committee Actions

House Referrals

Related Bills

Bill # Subject Relationship
Bill #: HB 983 CS Subject: Public Records Exemption for Putative Father Registry Relationship: Linked
Bill #: CS/SB 2456 Subject: Adoption Relationship: Identical
Bill #: HB 11 Subject: Public Records Relationship: Compare
Bill #: HB 1107 CS Subject: Children and Families Relationship: Compare
Bill #: CS/SB 128 Subject: Children & Families Relationship: Compare
Bill #: CS/SB 2526 Subject: Putative Father Registry/Pub. Rec. Relationship: Compare

Bill Text

  • Enrolled
  • Engrossed 2
  • Engrossed 1
    • A 762819 , Mahon Date Filed: 04/25/03, Page#: 0, Line#: 3591 House: Adopted 04/25/2003 01:37 PM
  • Committee Substitute 1
    • A 155583 , Mahon Date Filed: 04/09/03, Page#: 0, Line#: 826 House: Adopted 04/10/2003 01:51 PM
    • A 846537 , Mahon Date Filed: 04/09/03, Page#: 0, Line#: 970 House: Adopted 04/10/2003 01:51 PM
    • A 097957 , Mahon Date Filed: 04/09/03, Page#: 0, Line#: 1008 House: Adopted 04/10/2003 01:51 PM
  • Original Filed Version
    • A 614069 , Mahon Date Filed: 03/06/03, Page#: 0, Line#: 530 House: Withdrawn 03/19/2003 09:19 AM

Staff Analysis

Chamber Committee
Chamber: House Committee: Judiciary 4/2/2003 10:34:21 AM
Chamber: House Committee: Judiciary 3/25/2003 9:13:24 AM

Vote History

Chamber Date Yeas Nays Action Action 2 Vote Detail Barcode
Chamber: House Date: 04/25/2003 01:37 PM   Yeas: 115 Nays: 0 Action: Passage Action 2: Vote Detail: Vote [Seq# 184] Barcode:
Chamber: Senate Date: 04/28/2003 12:09 PM   Yeas: 39 Nays: 0 Action: Action 2: Vote Detail: Vote [Seq# 17] Barcode:

Bill History

Event Time Member Committee Ver.
Event: Approved by Governor; Chapter No. 2003-58; See also CS/SB 2526 (Ch. 2003-56) Time: 05/30/2003 - 9:30 AM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: Signed by Officers and presented to Governor Time: 05/21/2003 - 2:58 PM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H Ordered enrolled Time: 04/28/2003 - 8:50 PM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H In Messages Time: 04/28/2003 - 12:56 PM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: S Passed; YEAS 39 NAYS 0 -SJ 00659 Time: 04/28/2003 - 12:00 AM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: S Read second and third times -SJ 00659 Time: 04/28/2003 - 12:00 AM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: S Substituted for CS/SB 2456 -SJ 00659 Time: 04/28/2003 - 12:00 AM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: S Immediately withdrawn from Judiciary; Children and Families; Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services; Appropriations -SJ 00658 Time: 04/28/2003 - 12:00 AM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: S Received, referred to Judiciary; Children and Families; Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services; Appropriations -SJ 00707 Time: 04/28/2003 - 12:00 AM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: S In Messages Time: 04/25/2003 - 5:00 PM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H Message sent to senate Time: 04/25/2003 - 4:39 PM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H Passage on third reading Time: 04/25/2003 - 1:38 PM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H Passed as amended; YEAS 115, NAYS 0 Time: 04/25/2003 - 1:37 PM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H Read 3rd time Time: 04/25/2003 - 1:36 PM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H Amendment 762819 filed timely Time: 04/25/2003 - 12:04 PM Member: Committee: Version: e1
Event: H Temporarily postponed, on 3rd Reading Time: 04/25/2003 - 12:01 PM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H Temporarily postponed, on 3rd Reading Time: 04/24/2003 - 10:27 AM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H Temporarily postponed, on 3rd Reading Time: 04/23/2003 - 10:34 AM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H Temporarily postponed, on 3rd Reading Time: 04/22/2003 - 12:38 PM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H Bill added to Third Reading Calendar Time: 04/10/2003 - 2:38 PM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H Read 2nd time Time: 04/10/2003 - 1:48 PM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H Amendment 155583 filed timely Time: 04/09/2003 - 3:57 PM Member: Committee: Version: c1
Event: H Amendment 97957 filed timely Time: 04/09/2003 - 3:57 PM Member: Committee: Version: c1
Event: H Amendment 846537 filed timely Time: 04/09/2003 - 3:56 PM Member: Committee: Version: c1
Event: H Bill added to Special Order Calendar (04/10/2003) Time: 04/08/2003 - 6:15 PM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H Bill added to Second Reading Calendar Time: 04/07/2003 - 5:31 PM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H Bill released to House Calendar Time: 04/07/2003 - 5:31 PM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H Recommendation: CS by Judiciary ; Pending Review of CS under Rule 6.3 Time: 03/31/2003 - 9:39 AM Member: Committee: Judiciary Version:
Event: H Filed timely Time: 03/31/2003 - 9:38 AM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H Bill passed referred committee Time: 03/31/2003 - 9:08 AM Member: Committee: Judiciary Version:
Event: H Bill reported out of committee meeting Time: 03/31/2003 - 9:08 AM Member: Committee: Judiciary Version:
Event: H Bill added to Judiciary agenda Time: 03/24/2003 - 4:09 PM Member: Committee: Judiciary Version:
Event: H Bill referred to Judiciary Time: 03/18/2003 - 4:30 PM Member: Committee: Judiciary Version:
Event: H Amendment 614069 filed timely Time: 03/06/2003 - 9:19 AM Member: Committee: Version: __
Event: H Bill added to Second Reading Calendar Time: 03/05/2003 - 3:56 AM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H 1st Reading Time: 03/04/2003 - 10:30 AM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H Bill referred to House Calendar Time: 03/03/2003 - 10:55 AM Member: Committee: Version:
Event: H File timely Time: 02/27/2003 - 3:25 PM Member: Mahon Committee: Version:

Statutes Referenced by this Bill

Statute Other Bill Citations
63.022
63.032
63.039
63.042
63.0423
63.0425 HB 1107 CS
63.0427
63.043
63.052
63.053
63.054
63.062
63.063
63.064
63.082
63.085
63.087
63.088
63.089
63.092 HB 1391 CS
63.097 HB 443
63.102
63.112
63.122
63.125
63.132
63.135
63.142
63.152
63.162
63.167
63.182 HB 1749 CS
63.185
63.207
63.212
63.213
63.219
63.235