December 10, 2018 – Two uniform acts were approved for inclusion in the Council of State Governments' (CSG) "Shared State Legislation" compilation at the CSG SSL's recent meeting in Northern Kentucky / Greater Cincinnati. The Uniform Parentage Act (2017) and the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act – included as "shared state legislation" – were drafted and approved by the Uniform Law Commission (ULC).
The Uniform Parentage Act (2017) provides states with rules for determining parentage of a child. It is a revision of the Uniform Parentage Act (UPA) of 2000, which has been adopted in 11 states. The UPA covered several topics, including: the parent-child relationship; voluntary acknowledgments of paternity; registry of paternity; genetic testing; proceedings to adjudicate parentage of children of assisted reproduction. As a result of the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, as well as other developments in the states, a revision to the Act became necessary. The revised Act addresses issues related to same-sex couples, surrogacy, the right of a child to genetic information, de facto parentage, and parentage of children conceived through sexual assault. The UPA (2017) was approved by the ULC in 2017 and has been adopted in three states: California, Vermont, and Washington.
The ULC first drafted uniform state legislation on unclaimed property in 1954. Since then, revisions have been promulgated in 1981 and again in 1995. Many technological developments in recent years as well as new types of potential unclaimed property, such as gift cards, are not addressed in the most current uniform act. The Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act updates provisions on numerous issues, including escheat of gift cards and other stored-value cards, life insurance benefits, securities, dormancy periods, and use of contract auditors. The Revised Act provides a comprehensive and extensive set of revisions, including provisions related to: when property is presumed abandoned; which state has custody of property; the recovery of unclaimed property from states by owners; the powers and responsibilities granted to state unclaimed property administrators; and the rights of holders to seek administrative and judicial review of examinations conducted by administrators. The Revised Act was approved by the ULC in 2016 and has been adopted in three states: Kentucky, Tennessee, and Utah.
Further information on each of these Uniform Acts can be found at the ULC's website at www.uniformlaws.org.
What is Shared State Legislation (SSL)?
Launched in 1941, The Council of State Governments' Shared State Legislation–or SSL–program, previously known as Suggested State Legislation, is both a member-driven process and an annual publication detailing topics of current importance to the states. The CSG SSL Committee, comprised exclusively of state officials, meets twice annually to review legislation adopted in the states. The committee then selects legislation to be included in the annual SSL volume. These volumes are published online for dissemination to state leaders and staff.
CSG does not promote or advocate for the enactment of state legislation, nor does it draft model legislation. Rather, the program's goal is to facilitate the sharing of legislative ideas among CSG members. The consideration or dissemination of such legislation by the SSL Committee does not constitute an endorsement nor will CSG advocate for the enactment of any such legislation in any member jurisdictions
About the Uniform Law Commission
The Uniform Law Commission is comprised of more than 350 practicing lawyers, governmental lawyers, judges, law professors and lawyer-legislators, who are appointed by each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to research, draft and promote enactment of uniform state laws in areas of state laws where uniformity is desirable and practical. Now in its 127th year, the ULC has provided states with over 250 uniform acts that help bring clarity and stability to critical areas of state statutory law.
About the Council of State Governments
Founded in 1933, the Council of State Governments is the country's only organization serving all three branches of state government. CSG is a region-based forum that fosters the exchange of insights and ideas to help state officials shape public policy. This offers unparalleled regional, national and international opportunities to network, develop leaders, collaborate and create problem-solving partnerships.
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Uniform Law Commission
111 N. Wabash Ave., Suite 1010, Chicago, IL 60602
312-450-6600, www.uniformlaws.org
Contact: Katie Robinson, ULC Communications Officer, krobinson@...
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Katie Robinson
Legislative Program Director
Chicago IL
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