House File 2414 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 505)
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to adoption petitions and proceedings including
2 the information required to be included in an adoption
3 petition.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
5 TLSB 5234HV 81
6 pf/cf/24
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 600.5, Code 2005, is amended by adding
1 2 the following new subsections:
1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 7A. Any name by which the petitioner is
1 4 known or has been known.
1 5 NEW SUBSECTION. 7B. The existence of any criminal
1 6 conviction under a law of any state against the petitioner,
1 7 and the existence of any founded child abuse report in which
1 8 the petitioner is named.
1 9 Sec. 2. Section 600.8, subsection 7, Code 2005, is amended
1 10 to read as follows:
1 11 7. Any investigation or report required under this section
1 12 shall not apply when the person to be adopted is an adult or
1 13 when the prospective adoption petitioner or adoption
1 14 petitioner is a stepparent of the person to be adopted.
1 15 However, in the case of a stepparent adoption, the juvenile
1 16 court or court, upon the request of an interested person or on
1 17 its own motion stating the reasons therefor of record, may
1 18 order an investigation or report pursuant to this section.
1 19 Additionally, if an adoption petitioner discloses a criminal
1 20 conviction or founded child abuse report pursuant to section
1 21 600.5, the petitioner shall notify the court of the inclusion
1 22 of this information in the petition prior to the final
1 23 adoption hearing, and the court shall make a specific ruling
1 24 regarding whether to waive any investigation or report
1 25 required under subsection 1.
1 26 Sec. 3. Section 600.8, subsection 12, Code 2005, is
1 27 amended to read as follows:
1 28 12. Any investigation and report required under subsection
1 29 1 of this section may be waived by the juvenile court or court
1 30 if the adoption petitioner is related within the fourth degree
1 31 of consanguinity to the person to be adopted. However, if an
1 32 adoption petitioner discloses a criminal conviction or founded
1 33 child abuse report pursuant to section 600.5, the petitioner
1 34 shall notify the court of the inclusion of this information in
1 35 the petition prior to the final adoption hearing, and the
2 1 court shall make a specific ruling regarding whether to waive
2 2 any investigation or report required under subsection 1.
2 3 EXPLANATION
2 4 This bill relates to adoption petitions and proceedings.
2 5 The bill requires that in addition to other information
2 6 required to be stated in an adoption petition, the petitioner
2 7 is also to state any name by which the petitioner is known or
2 8 has been known and the existence of any criminal conviction
2 9 under a law of any state against the petitioner and the
2 10 existence of any founded child abuse report in which the
2 11 petitioner is named.
2 12 With regard to investigations and reports relating to
2 13 adoption petitions involving a stepparent or relative, the
2 14 Code provides that such investigations or reports do not apply
2 15 or may be waived. Under the bill, however, if an adoption
2 16 petitioner discloses a criminal conviction or founded child
2 17 abuse report in the petition, the petitioner is to notify the
2 18 court prior to the final adoption hearing and the court is to
2 19 make a specific ruling as to whether any investigation or
2 20 report may be waived.
2 21 LSB 5234HV 81
2 22 pf:nh/cf/24