The bill amends the Adoption Act and the New Mexico Uniform Parentage Act to introduce "confirmatory adoptions," allowing parents of children conceived through assisted reproduction to confirm their parentage and obtain an adoption judgment. It establishes a new definition for "confirmatory adoption" and specifies that certain existing requirements, such as pre-placement studies and notice provisions, do not apply to these adoptions. The bill also clarifies definitions and procedures related to adoption, ensuring that terms related to parent-child relationships are equally applicable to both fathers and mothers, thereby streamlining the adoption process for families involved in assisted reproduction.

Additionally, the bill sets new requirements for accounting and payment related to adoption services, mandating that an accounting report be signed under penalty of perjury, detailing services received and the parties involved in financial transactions. It restricts payments for allowed expenses to prospective adoptive parents and outlines permissible expenses while introducing penalties for unauthorized payments or threats regarding parental rights relinquishment. The bill further simplifies the petition process for confirmatory adoptions by eliminating certain requirements, ensuring that courts grant petitions within thirty days if petitioners are recognized as legal parents and no competing claims exist.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 32A-5-3, 32A-5-14, 32A-5-27, 32A-5-34, 40-11A-704
Final Version: 32A-5-3, 32A-5-14, 32A-5-27, 32A-5-34, 40-11A-704