The House Families, Children and Seniors Committee began testimony last
week on a series of bills that would change the state adoption system. The
bills would allow a birth mother to consent to adoption outside of the court
process, provide a birth mother with 72 hours to rescind her consent, permit
the court to finalize the adoption process in three months of placement, and
ensure that custody of the child would be placed with the adoptive family or
the mother, not the putative father, during the adoption proceedings.
While adoption agencies
and attorneys primarily supported the legislation, modifications to the bills
were presented to the committee chair, Rep. Ken Kurtz (R-Coldwater). Suggested
changes included changing 72 hours to three days, having an advocate for the
birth mother present when the paperwork is signed, limiting the birth mother’s
right to rescind her consent, among others.
Chairman Kurtz will take these changes under advisement before the
committee reconvenes discussion on this legislation.