House Bill No. [insert bill number] amends R.S. 40:46.12(E) to update the regulations surrounding hospital-based paternity programs in Louisiana. The bill stipulates that a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity must be signed by both parents and authenticated by a notary, but it removes the requirement for the presence or signature of two witnesses. Additionally, any acknowledgment of paternity obtained through this program will have the same legal standing as an authentic act for the purposes of changing or recording paternity with the state registrar of vital records.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that the provisions do not apply to parents under the age of eighteen, who must establish paternity through other legal means. This legislative change aims to streamline the process of acknowledging paternity in hospital settings, making it more accessible for parents while ensuring that the legal framework remains intact.

Statutes affected:
HB535 Original: 40:12(E)
HB535 Engrossed: 40:12(E)
HB535 Enrolled: 40:12(E)