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Feb
Mandatory Paternity Testing In Tennessee
Thanks to Representative Hardaway, our wonderful Tennessee government is trying to pass a bill that would require mandatory paternity testing. It would be required for ALL babies, regardless of the relationship between the child’s parents. You can see the bill HERE (PDF). Here is an excerpt:
( ) Regardless of the relationship between a child’s parents, a genetic test shall be administered as provided in § 24-7-112 to confirm the paternity of the child before a father shall be isted on the birth certificate. In order to provide genetic testing for those who are financially unable to pay for such testing in whole or in part, the department of human services shall be responsible for payment for testing for parties financially unable to pay, in whole or in part for the purpose of providing evidence of paternity. The requirements for financial inability to pay shall be established by the commissioner of human services. The commissioner shall take into consideration the family income, the number of dependents in the family, the probable total cost of testing and the other financial responsibilities of the family.
( ) If the results of the required paternity test have not been received, or if the results have been received and showed the purported father was not the biological father of the child, no name shall be entered as the father on the birth certificate until such name can be established by genetic test. In such cases, the certificate shall be amended to include the name of the child’s father upon receipt of the results of a genetic test establishing paternity.
So, you can see what is going to happen. If I as a responsible adult want to have a child, I will have to pay for my own test. However, for those that are financially “strapped,” I have to pay for their test as well. And what happens if the father is away, serving in Iraq or has passed away? His name is not allowed on the birth certificate. This is crazy.
Write your legislators and let them know what you think of this. I just did.
Also see:
[...] Cross-posted from The Roundtable [...]
February 19th, 2008 at 9:49 amI love this Idea. If the women doesn’t have nothing to worry about then it should not be a big deal. I would get one with both of my children. I think it will elimate a lot of paternity Fraud. I think however that the “father” should be allowed on the birth certificate when the child is born if they are in the military and can not be there, but should be tested immediately when they come back. And as for if the “father” has passed away they can test one of his family members. It will show if they are related or not. So that should be a problem. If they are related then the “father” who passed away should be put on the birth certificate. I think this should become in effect as soon as possible. There are too many women who blame men of being the “father” of their child. Which ends up in a paternity test and did you know that in Tennessee that 1 in 10 men are not the father of their child? That is a lot if you think of it. It shouldn’t be that high and hopfully women would choose to be more truthful if they knew that the truth would be out in 9 months and there is no way of conning a man into being a father.
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:23 pmAlso I think everyone should pay for their own test. Let them make monthly payments or whatever it takes. But I don’t think it is fair that some will not pay for their own test. It just isn’t right. No one is responsible for anything for that child except for the parents and that is including everything that goes with it including testing.
I do think it is a good idea for children paternity to be established, but I do not agree with the government forcing that upon us. What is the poverty rate there? Then you know who will be paying for those test for the ones that cannot afford to pay…. I agree put them on a payment plan make them pay it out. Then you would probably end up with a bunch of people in collections because they couldn’t pay their payments. lol… what a joke.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:43 amThis is definitely a good idea. The legal and financial commitment asked of a biological father is tremendous; were I to commit to having a child, I would think it absolutely necessary to verify genetics.
To not do so would be akin to buying a house without ever seen photos of it or setting foot inside it.
Further, while the majority of people are honest, mandatory state testing would help ‘keep the honest honest’. Men and women both are only honest when someone is looking. With mandatory testing, someone is always looking.
And for something as important as a child, someone -should- always be looking.
November 19th, 2009 at 3:11 pm