2019 -- H 5136

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- ADOPTION OF CHILDREN

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Williams, Cassar, Vella-Wilkinson, Blazejewski, and
Serpa

     Date Introduced: January 17, 2019

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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Children" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     15-7-5. Consent required.

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     (a) The parents of the child, or their survivor, shall, except as provided in this section,

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consent in writing to the adoption, or the petition shall be dismissed. If neither parent is living, the

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guardian of the person of the child, or, if there is no guardian, the next of kin, may give consent;

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or if there is no next of kin, the court may appoint some suitable person to act in the proceedings

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as next friend of the child, and to give or withhold the consent; provided, that if the child is of the

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age of fourteen (14) years or over, the adoption shall not be made without the child's consent. In

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case the child to be adopted is eighteen (18) years or older, the consent of, or notice to, the child's

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parents or other person in the child's behalf shall not be required.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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terminating his or her parental rights.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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a grandparent with sole custody of the child, and with whom the child is residing at the time the

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petition is filed, if the noncustodial natural parent(s) or their survivor refuses to consent to the

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adoption, the court shall determine whether the noncustodial parent(s') or their survivor's rights

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

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for termination of parental rights set forth in §15-7-7; provided, that the petitioner need not

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demonstrate, and the court shall not require, efforts to encourage and strengthen the child's

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relationship with the noncustodial parent(s) prior to terminating their parental rights. In addition,

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when the petitioner is a grandparent with sole custody of the child, and with whom the child is

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residing at the time the petition is filed, if the noncustodial natural parent(s) or their survivor

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refuse to consent to the adoption, then the court may grant the petition without the noncustodial

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parent(s') or their survivor's consent if the petitioner proves by clear and convincing evidence any

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of the grounds set forth in §§15-7-7(a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(4). The standard of proof in these cases

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shall be by clear and convincing evidence and the court shall give primary consideration to the

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

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not inconsistent with other provisions of this chapter.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- ADOPTION OF CHILDREN

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

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

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is in the sole custody of the grandparent(s).

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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