House Bill No. 535, introduced by Representative Chenevert, amends R.S. 40:46.12(E) to clarify the requirements for a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity within hospital-based paternity programs. The bill specifies that the acknowledgment must be signed by both parents and authenticated by a notary, but it removes the previous requirement for the presence or signature of two witnesses. This change aims to streamline the process of acknowledging paternity in hospital settings.

Additionally, the bill establishes that any acknowledgment of paternity obtained through this program will have the same legal standing as an authentic act when it comes to changing or recording a child's paternity with the state registrar of vital records. However, it also notes that these provisions do not apply to parents under the age of eighteen, who must follow other legal processes to establish paternity.

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