50-15-210. Paternity acknowledgment. (1) Upon the birth of a child to a mother unmarried at the time of birth, the administrator or person in charge of a hospital or other institution in which the birth occurs or the midwife who attends the birth shall:
     (a) provide an opportunity for the child's mother and alleged father to complete an acknowledgment of paternity pursuant to 40-6-105;
     (b) provide written information, furnished by the department of public health and human services, describing the rights and responsibilities of paternity, the benefits of having a child's paternity established, and the child's right to receive support; and
     (c) forward a copy of an acknowledgment signed by the mother and the father to the department.
     (2) The hospital, institution, or midwife is entitled to reimbursement for reasonable costs of obtaining an acknowledgment. The department of public health and human services shall establish the amount of reasonable costs, not to exceed the amount for which federal financial participation is available, and the procedures for claiming reimbursement.
     (3) Hospitals, institutions, and midwives shall use forms prescribed by the department for the acknowledgment of paternity.

     History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 523, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 70, L. 1995.