Protecting Adoption and Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Act of 2013
Latest action (20 Jun 2013): Introduced
What this bill does
Senate bill S. 1203, the Protecting Adoption and Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Act of 2013, would create a National Responsible Father Registry within the Department of Health and Human Services and encourage states to link their own "putative father" registries to it. Men who believe they may have fathered a child could register identifying information—either through a participating state registry or directly with the federal government—so they can receive timely notice of adoption proceedings, custody placements, or actions to terminate parental rights. The Secretary of HHS would be required to build the system within 180 days, process search requests within two business days, and run a public education campaign explaining how the registries work.
The bill affects several groups: birth mothers, who would no longer be required to disclose the identity of possible fathers to pursue adoption, protecting their privacy and safety, particularly in cases involving rape or domestic violence; possible fathers, who gain a mechanism to assert parental rights and receive notice of proceedings; adoption agencies, attorneys, and adoptive parents, who would gain a tool to verify whether any possible fathers are registered before finalizing adoptions; and states, which would be encouraged—but not required—to enter agreements with HHS, modify their registries, and could receive grants for compliance.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on June 20, 2013, by Senator Mary Landrieu with Senator Inhofe, and referred to the Senate Finance Committee. It received no further votes or committee action and did not become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Promoting Adoption and Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Act of 2013 - Amends part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish and maintain an automated National Responsible Father Registry.
Requires the Registry to: (1) contain specified kinds of information sufficient to identify a possible father, and (2) provide a mechanism for men to register such identifying information directly with the Registry.
Limits access to Registry information to eligible parties, including: (1) public and licensed private adoption or child placement agencies, (2) licensed attorneys representing a party in a planned or pending adoption or in the termination of rights of one or more possible fathers, (3) state agencies or entities responsible for the placement of children, and (4) state courts.
Directs the Secretary to establish a nationwide campaign designed to inform possible fathers, unwed mothers, possible adoptive parents, and eligible parties of the National Registry, the advantages of possible fathers registering either in the National Registry or State Responsible Father Registries, or both, the rights and responsibilities of such parties with regard to a proceeding, and the role of such Registries in a proceeding.
Directs the Secretary to use all reasonable efforts to encourage states to enter into agreements to establish automated State Responsible Father Registries and centers that make registration forms easily accessible to possible fathers.
Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to a state to establish a State Registry or modify an existing one to meet the requirements of this Act.
Common questions
- What does S. 1203 do?
- Senate bill S. 1203, the Protecting Adoption and Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Act of 2013, would create a National Responsible Father Registry within the Department of Health and Human Services and encourage states to link their own "putative father" registries to it. Men who believe they may have fathered a child could register identifying information—either through a participating state registry or directly with the federal government—so they can receive timely notice of adoption proceedings, custody placements, or actions to terminate parental rights. The Secretary of HHS would be required to build the system within 180 days, process search requests within two business days, and run a public education campaign explaining how the registries work. The bill affects several groups: birth mothers, who would no longer be required to disclose the identity of possible fathers to pursue adoption, protecting their privacy and safety, particularly in cases involving rape or domestic violence; possible fathers, who gain a mechanism to assert parental rights and receive notice of proceedings; adoption agencies, attorneys, and adoptive parents, who would gain a tool to verify whether any possible fathers are registered before finalizing adoptions; and states, which would be encouraged—but not required—to enter agreements with HHS, modify their registries, and could receive grants for compliance. The bill was introduced in the Senate on June 20, 2013, by Senator Mary Landrieu with Senator Inhofe, and referred to the Senate Finance Committee. It received no further votes or committee action and did not become law.
- Has S. 1203 become law?
- Not yet. As of 20 Jun 2013, S. 1203 is introduced.
- Who sponsored S. 1203?
- S. 1203 was sponsored by Sen. Mary Landrieu [D-LA, 1997-2014] (Democrat-LA), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on S. 1203?
- Introduced (20 Jun 2013).
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