S-142                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5003

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Senators Bottiger, Vognild and Moore

Prefiled with Secretary of the Senate 12/22/86.  Read first time 1/12/87 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to termination of parent-child relationships; and amending RCW 26.33.120.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 12, chapter 155, Laws of 1984 and RCW 26.33.120 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) The parent-child relationship of a parent may be terminated upon a showing by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence that it is in the best interest of the child to terminate the relationship and that the parent has failed to perform parental duties under circumstances showing a substantial lack of regard for his or her parental obligations and is withholding consent to adoption contrary to the best interest of the child.

          (2) The parent-child relationship of an alleged father who appears and claims paternity may be terminated upon a showing by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence that it is in the best interest of the child to terminate the relationship and that:

          (a) The alleged father has failed to perform parental duties under circumstances showing a substantial lack of regard for his parental obligations and is withholding consent to adoption contrary to the best interest of the child; or

          (b) He is not the father.

          (3) The parent-child relationship of a parent or an alleged father may be terminated if the parent or alleged father fails to appear after being notified of the hearing in the manner prescribed by RCW 26.33.310.

(4) If a noncustodial parent, at the time of the hearing, has failed to pay past-due child support obligations owed by the parent, the parent shall not object to the termination of the parent-child relationship.