Assembly Bill 70 proposes significant changes to the process of disclaiming parental rights in Wisconsin, particularly for parents of children under one year of age. The bill allows a mother, father, or alleged or presumed father to disclaim their parental rights in writing, using an affidavit, instead of requiring a court appearance. This affidavit must be notarized, witnessed, and include specific statements regarding the understanding of the consequences of terminating parental rights. The bill also stipulates that the affidavit can be executed by the father or alleged father before the child's birth, but not by the mother, and sets forth conditions under which the disclaimer can be revoked. Additionally, it mandates that counseling and legal counseling be offered to individuals disclaiming their parental rights at the agency's expense.

Furthermore, the bill expands the scope of permissible payments related to adoption by allowing payments to licensed out-of-state private child placing agencies for services connected to adoption, which is a departure from current law that restricts such payments to in-state agencies. The bill includes provisions to ensure that the process is conducted in compliance with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, where applicable. Overall, Assembly Bill 70 aims to streamline the adoption process while ensuring that the rights and responsibilities of parents are clearly defined and understood.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 48.41(1), 48.41