| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to paternity testing; amending s. 742.12, |
| 3 | F.S.; providing that in any proceeding in which the |
| 4 | established paternity of a child is challenged the court |
| 5 | may order the parties to submit to scientific testing; |
| 6 | authorizing the court to order that the parties submit to |
| 7 | scientific testing in such a proceeding without limitation |
| 8 | of time; providing an effective date. |
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| 10 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
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| 12 | Section 1. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 742.12, |
| 13 | Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (8) is added to |
| 14 | that section, to read: |
| 15 | 742.12 Scientific testing to determine paternity.-- |
| 16 | (1) In any proceeding to establish paternity or in any |
| 17 | proceeding in which the established paternity of a child is |
| 18 | challenged, the court on its own motion may require the child, |
| 19 | mother, and alleged fathers to submit to scientific tests that |
| 20 | are generally acceptable within the scientific community to show |
| 21 | a probability of paternity. The court shall direct that the |
| 22 | tests be conducted by a qualified technical laboratory. |
| 23 | (2) In any proceeding to establish paternity or in any |
| 24 | proceeding in which the established paternity of a child is |
| 25 | challenged, the court may, upon request of a party providing a |
| 26 | sworn statement or written declaration as provided by s. |
| 27 | 92.525(2) alleging paternity and setting forth facts |
| 28 | establishing a reasonable possibility of the requisite sexual |
| 29 | contact between the parties or providing a sworn statement or |
| 30 | written declaration denying paternity and setting forth facts |
| 31 | establishing a reasonable possibility of the nonexistence of |
| 32 | sexual contact between the parties, require the child, mother, |
| 33 | and alleged fathers to submit to scientific tests that are |
| 34 | generally acceptable within the scientific community to show a |
| 35 | probability of paternity. The court shall direct that the tests |
| 36 | be conducted by a qualified technical laboratory. |
| 37 | (8) The court may order the parties to submit to |
| 38 | scientific testing in any proceeding in which the established |
| 39 | paternity of a child is challenged without limitation of time. |
| 40 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2007. |