This bill amends various sections of Nebraska's adoption laws to facilitate the adoption of a minor child by a second adult, contingent upon the consent of the sole legal parent and the establishment of a parent-child relationship with the second adult. It introduces a requirement for a preplacement adoptive home study to be completed within one year prior to adoption hearings, although exemptions are made for stepparents and certain biological grandparents. The bill also clarifies consent requirements, particularly emphasizing the necessity of consent from the sole legal parent when a second adult is involved, and outlines notification procedures for biological fathers regarding their rights in the adoption process. Additionally, the bill updates the definition of "child" to encompass those adopted by a second adult and reinforces the responsibilities of both parents in child support cases, including those involving adopted children. It modifies the Parenting Act to ensure that court-approved settlements or support orders are binding on the legal representatives of the parent after their death, replacing the previous terms of father or mother. The bill also expands the applicability of the Parenting Act to include disputes involving parents of children adopted by a second adult and removes the previous limitation that restricted its application to proceedings filed after January 1, 2008. Overall, the bill aims to modernize and streamline the adoption process while safeguarding the rights and welfare of all parties involved.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 43-101, 43-101.01, 43-102, 43-104, 43-104.08, 43-104.13, 43-104.15, 43-107, 43-512.04, 43-1401, 43-1402, 43-1404, 43-1405, 43-1410, 43-2924