HB-6008, As Passed House, July 6, 2004

SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 6008

                                                                             A bill to amend 1939 PA 288, entitled                                             

"Probate code of 1939,"                                                     

by amending section 45 of chapter X (MCL 710.45), as amended by             

1996 PA 409.                                                                

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1                               CHAPTER X                                       

2       Sec. 45.  (1) A court shall not allow the filing of a                       

3   petition to adopt a child if the consent of a representative or             

4   court is required  pursuant to by section 43(1)(b), (c), or (d)            

5   of this chapter unless the petition is accompanied by the                   

6   required consent or a motion as provided in subsection (2).                 

7       (2) If an adoption petitioner has been unable to obtain the                 

8   consent required by section 43(1)(b), (c), or (d) of this                   

9   chapter, the petitioner may file a motion with the court alleging           

10  that the decision to withhold consent was arbitrary and                     

1   capricious.  A motion under this subsection shall contain                   

2   information regarding both of the following:                                

3       (a) The specific steps taken by the petitioner to obtain the                

4   consent required and the results, if any.                                   

5       (b) The specific reasons why the petitioner believes the                    

6   decision to withhold consent was arbitrary and capricious.                  

7       (3) If consent has been given to another petitioner and if                  

8   the child has been placed with that other petitioner  pursuant

9   according to an order under section 51 of this chapter, a motion            

10  under this section shall not be brought after either of the                 

11  following:                                                                  

12      (a) Fifty-six days following the entry of the order placing                 

13  the child.                                                                  

14      (b) Entry of an order of adoption.                                          

15  (4) The court shall provide notice of a motion brought under                

16  this section to all persons with an interest in the proceedings             

17  as set forth in section 24a of this chapter, including, but not             

18  limited to, all of the following:                                           

19      (a) The prospective adoptive parents.                                       

20      (b) The child's attorney or guardian ad litem appointed by a                

21  court of competent jurisdiction to represent the interests of the           

22  adoptee.                                                                    

23      (c) Any other agency, department, or individual with a                      

24  legitimate interest in the outcome of the motion.                           

25      (5) The court shall provide notice of a motion brought under                

26  this section to all interested parties as described in section              

27  24a(1) of this chapter.                                                     

1   (6)  (4)  Upon the filing of a petition to adopt a child and                

2   the motion described in subsection (2), the court may waive or              

3   modify the full investigation of the petition provided in                   

4   section 46 of this chapter.  The court shall decide the motion              

5   within 91 days after the filing of the motion unless good cause             

6   is shown.                                                                   

7   (7)  (5)  Unless the petitioner establishes by clear and                    

8   convincing evidence that the decision to withhold consent was               

9   arbitrary and capricious, the court shall deny the motion                   

10  described in subsection (2) and dismiss the petition to adopt.              

11  (8)  (6)  If the court finds by clear and convincing evidence               

12  that the decision to withhold consent was arbitrary and                     

13  capricious, the court may terminate the rights of the appropriate           

14  court, child placing agency, or department and may enter further            

15  orders in accordance with this chapter or section 18 of                     

16  chapter XIIA as the court considers appropriate.  In addition,              

17  the court may grant to the petitioner reimbursement for                     

18  petitioner's costs of preparing, filing, and arguing the motion             

19  alleging the withholding of consent was arbitrary and capricious,           

20  including a reasonable allowance for attorney fees.                         

21  (9)  (7)  If the consent at issue is that required of the                   

22  court under section 43(1)(c) of this chapter, the motion shall be           

23  heard by a visiting judge assigned  pursuant according to                  

24  section 8212 of the revised judicature act of 1961,  Act No. 236            

25  of the Public Acts of 1961, being section 600.8212 of the                   

26  Michigan Compiled Laws 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.8212.                          

27  (10) In making a decision on a motion filed under this                      

1   section, the court shall make a written determination regarding             

2   the best interests of the child.                                            

3   (11) For a motion brought under this section, the court shall               

4   provide all interested parties with the opportunity for a fair              

5   hearing.  All interested parties shall be allowed to offer                  

6   testimony and documentation regarding their position on the                 

7   motion or on the adoption of the child.                                     

8       (12) If a motion or petition filed under this section does                  

9   not meet all of the filing requirements of this section, the                

10  court shall notify the petitioner of the deficiencies in the                

11  motion or petition and allow 21 days for the petitioner to                  

12  correct the motion or petition.  If, after 21 days from                     

13  notification of the deficiencies by the court, the petitioner has           

14  not corrected the deficiencies in the motion or petition, the               

15  court shall dismiss the motion or petition.                                 

16      (13) In a matter in which a motion has been brought under                   

17  this section, the court shall not enter an order of adoption                

18  until 1 of the following occurs:                                            

19      (a) The motion is heard and decided, and the time within                    

20  which an appeal as of right has expired without an appeal being             

21  filed.                                                                      

22      (b) The motion is heard and decided, an appeal as of right                  

23  has been filed, the court of appeals has issued an opinion, and             

24  the time within which to file an application for leave to appeal            

25  to the supreme court has expired without an application being               

26  filed.                                                                      

27      (c) The supreme court has denied an application for leave to                

1   appeal or, if an application for leave to appeal is granted, the            

2   supreme court has issued an opinion.