Allowing a parent to change a minor child's name when the other parent is convicted of certain homicide or sex offenses

What it does

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill allows a parent to change the last name of a child under 14 years old without notice to the other parent if that other parent has been convicted of certain homicide or sex offenses.

Under current law, a parent of a child under 14 years old who has two living parents must file proof that the petitioning parent published notice of a petition to change the last name of the child and, in addition, file proof that the petitioning parent served a copy of the notice and petition on the nonpetitioning parent. Current law allows that proof of notice to the nonpetitioning parent is not required if the petitioning parent shows that he or she made a reasonable attempt to find and provide notice to the nonpetitioning parent, but with reasonable diligence that the nonpetitioning parent cannot be found or provided with notice. Under current law, if the nonpetitioning parent appears at the hearing on the petition or otherwise answers the petition, the court may require consent of the nonpetitioning parent before changing the name of the child. Under the bill, if a nonpetitioning parent has been convicted of certain homicide or sex offenses, the petitioning parent may proceed with a petition for the name change of a child under 14 years old without providing or attempting to provide notice to the nonpetitioning parent.

Who's behind it

3 senators are its authors⁠. 2 are Democrats and 1 is a Republican.

14 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.