MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Judiciary

By: Senator(s) Johnson (19th), Browning, Kirby, White (29th), Michel, Moffatt, Scoper, Jordan, Furniss, Mettetal, Frazier, Tollison, Hyde-Smith, Hamilton, Minor, Williamson, Farris, Nunnelee, Hewes, Ross, Chamberlin, Smith, Carmichael, King, Robertson, Little, Canon

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 93-17-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT ADOPTION BY SAME SEX COUPLES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 93-17-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

93-17-3. (1) Any person may be adopted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter in termtime or in vacation by an unmarried adult or by a married person whose spouse joins in the petition, provided that the petitioner or petitioners shall have resided in this state for ninety (90) days preceding the filing of the petition. However, if (a) the petitioner or petitioners, or one (1) of them, be related to the child within the third degree according to civil law, or if (b) the adoption is presented to the court by an adoption agency licensed by the State of Mississippi, said residence restriction shall not apply. Such adoption shall be by sworn petition filed in the chancery court of the county in which the adopting petitioner or petitioners reside or in which the child to be adopted resides or was born, or was found when it was abandoned or deserted, or in which the home is located to which the child shall have been surrendered by a person authorized to so do. The petition shall be accompanied by a doctor's certificate showing the physical and mental condition of the child to be adopted and a sworn statement of all property, if any owned by the child. Should the doctor's certificate indicate any abnormal mental or physical condition or defect, such condition or defect shall not in the discretion of the chancellor bar the adoption of the child if the adopting parent or parents shall file an affidavit stating full and complete knowledge of such condition or defect and stating a desire to adopt the child, notwithstanding such condition or defect. The court shall have the power to change the name of the child as a part of the adoption proceedings. The word "child" herein shall be construed to refer to the person to be adopted, though an adult.

(2) Adoption by couples of the same gender is prohibited. Any adoption by couples of the same gender that is valid in another jurisdiction does not constitute a legal or valid adoption in Mississippi.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.