Relating to paternity and the obligation of parents for support of children

This bill amends Code chapter 600B (paternity and obligation for support) to allow for both a mother or a child and an alleged father of a child to file a complaint to establish paternity of a child and an obligation for support of the child. Under current law, the proceedings under Code chapter 600B may be brought only by the mother, or other interested person, or if the child is or is likely to be a public charge, by the authorities charged with the child’s support. The bill provides that an alleged father may also initiate the proceedings, and makes conforming changes throughout the Code chapter to provide that the alleged father may also be the complainant or plaintiff. The bill also specifically includes an alleged father as a party that may request blood or genetic testing in a proceeding to establish paternity, and provides that a mother or alleged father requesting the testing shall file with the court an affidavit either alleging or denying paternity and setting forth facts that establish the reasonable possibility that there was, or was not, the requisite sexual contact between the parties.