§ 40-6-21.1. Voluntary acknowledgement of paternity - Hospital-based program. (a) The department of human services is authorized and directed to establish, in accordance with the requirements of title 466(a)(5) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 666(a)(5), a hospital-based program for the voluntary acknowledgement of paternity during the period immediately preceding or following the birth of a child. The department of human services shall require all public and private birthing hospitals in this state as defined herein, to participate in the hospital-based paternity acknowledgement program and to provide such services, materials and reports as may be required by federal law and regulations. The program must be operational in hospitals no later than January 1, 1995. The department is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations necessary to implement the hospital-based program and to enter into cooperative agreements with other state agencies to effectuate the program.

(b) The requirement for participation in the program by hospitals is in addition to the birth registration requirements under chapter 3 of title 23; provided, however, that the department of human services shall work in cooperation with the department of health, registrar of vital records, to avoid duplication of obligations imposed on such hospitals to the extent permitted by federal law and regulations.

(c) The term "birthing hospital" means a hospital that has a licensed obstetric care unit or is licensed to provide obstetric services, or a licensed birthing center associated with a hospital. A birthing center is a facility outside a hospital that provides maternity services.

History of Section. (P.L. 1994, ch. 236, § 3.)