House Amendments to Senate Bill No. 2120

 

TO THE SECRETARY OF THE SENATE:

 

  THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT THE HOUSE HAS ADOPTED THE AMENDMENTS SET OUT BELOW:

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1

 

     Amend by striking all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

 


     SECTION 1.  Section 93-9-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     93-9-27.  (1)  If the court finds that the conclusions of all the experts, as disclosed by the evidence based upon the tests, are that the alleged father is not the father of the child, the question of paternity shall be resolved accordingly.  If an expert concludes that the blood or other tests show the probability of paternity, that evidence shall be admitted.

     (2)  There shall be a rebuttable presumption of paternity, affecting the burden of proof, * * * if the court finds that the probability of paternity, as calculated by the experts qualified as examiners of genetic tests, is ninety-eight percent (98%) or greater.  This presumption may only be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence.

     (3)  Parties to an action to establish paternity shall not be entitled to a jury trial.

     (4)  The Department of Human Services may statistically report as positive, to the Administration for Children and Families within the United States Department of Health and Human Services, any putative paternity if the probability of paternity, as calculated by the experts qualified as examiners of genetic tests, is ninety-nine percent (99%) or greater, subject only to a later determination of nonpaternity ordered by a court under this chapter.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.


     Further, amend by striking the title in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

 


     AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 93-9-27, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO STATISTICALLY REPORT PUTATIVE PATERNITY TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.


 

HR40\SB2120A.J

 

                                                  Don Richardson

                           Clerk of the House of Representatives