HOUSE BILL No. 5467

 

April 23, 2014, Introduced by Reps. Hooker and Kesto and referred to the Committee on Families, Children, and Seniors.

 

     A bill to amend 2012 PA 159, entitled

 

"Revocation of paternity act,"

 

by amending section 7 (MCL 722.1437).

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 7. (1) The mother, the acknowledged father, an alleged

 

father, or a prosecuting attorney may file an action for revocation

 

of an acknowledgment of parentage. An action under this section

 

shall be filed within 3 years after the child's birth or within 1

 

year after the date that the acknowledgment of parentage was

 

signed, whichever is later. The requirement that an action be filed

 

within 3 years after the child's birth or within 1 year after the

 

date the acknowledgment is signed does not apply to an action filed

 


on or before 1 year after the effective date of this act.June 12,

 

2013.

 

     (2) The prosecuting attorney and the department of human

 

services may enter into an agreement to transfer the prosecutor's

 

responsibilities under this act to 1 of the following:

 

     (a) The friend of the court, with the approval of the chief

 

circuit judge.

 

     (b) An attorney employed or contracted by the county under

 

section 1 of 1941 PA 15, MCL 49.71.

 

     (c) An attorney employed by, or under contract with, the

 

department of human services.

 

     (3) A proceeding under this section is conducted on behalf of

 

the state and not as the attorney for any other party.

 

     (4) (2) An action for revocation under this section shall be

 

supported by an affidavit signed by the person filing the action

 

that states facts that constitute 1 of the following:

 

     (a) Mistake of fact.

 

     (b) Newly discovered evidence that by due diligence could not

 

have been found before the acknowledgment was signed.

 

     (c) Fraud.

 

     (d) Misrepresentation or misconduct.

 

     (e) Duress in signing the acknowledgment.

 

     (5) (3) If the court in an action for revocation under this

 

section finds that an affidavit under subsection (2) (4) is

 

sufficient, the court shall order blood or tissue typing or DNA

 

identification profiling as required under section 13(5). The

 

person filing the action has the burden of proving, by clear and

 


convincing evidence, that the acknowledged father is not the father

 

of the child.

 

     (6) (4) The clerk of the court shall forward a copy of an

 

order of revocation entered under this section to the state

 

registrar. The state registrar shall vacate the acknowledgment of

 

parentage and may amend the birth certificate as prescribed by the

 

order of revocation.

 

     (7) (5) Whether an action for revocation under this section is

 

brought by a complaint in an original action or by a motion in an

 

existing action, the prosecuting attorney, an attorney appointed by

 

the county, the friend of the court, or an attorney appointed by

 

the court is not required to represent any party regarding the

 

action for revocation.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days

 

after the date it is enacted into law.