Saturday, February 12, 2011

A bill introduced in the Kansas House would require every newborn in the state to be genetically tested to identify the child's father.

State Rep. Melody McCray Miller, a Democrat from Wichita, says the bill is intended to help men who have been named as a child's father, or who want to know if they are the child's father. The bill would also apply to married couples who have several children.

"This bill was really a bill that came to me by a group of grandmothers that were very concerned about how paternity, and the paternity laws on the state of Kansas were being dealt with, and how it addressed sons, and their rights," said Rep. McCray-Miller.

The bill says a court could intervene if someone refused to take the test or have it administered to the baby.

"It would simply put into place paternity testing, where that declaration would not have to be made, it would simply be done. It's that declaration that sometimes causes a problem, where either a stigma is attached to it, because you're really pointing a finger as to questioning whether or not this child is yours or not," said Rep. McCray-Miller.

Although the bill is in its first stage, what about some of the specifics?

How much will the testing cost, and who bears the cost?

Would certain people be able to opt out of testing, like married couples?

Have any other states enacted similar measures?

Rep. McCray-Miller has no answers yet, but promises, if the bill is put into law, privacy and confidentiality of the parents and the newborn will be protected.

"We thought this may be an opportunity for the public to discuss how paternity laws can be changed, and how that would benefit children in the outcome of it," said Rep. McCray-Miller.

"If there's an issue that may be somewhat controversial, and if you have a large number of individuals that say this is a concern, then, that's what we're here for. We're supposed to be able to be the voice of the people. That's exactly what I'm hoping to do here."