To amend sections 3107.062, 3107.065, 3107.066, and 3107.99; to amend, for the purpose of adopting a new section number as indicated in parentheses, section 3107.066 (3107.067); and to enact new section 3107.066 of the Revised Code to provide that ineffective promotion of the putative father registry does not relieve a putative father of the consequences of failing to timely register with the putative father registry and to make false registration a first degree misdemeanor.

Section 1. That sections 3107.062, 3107.065, 3107.066, and 3107.99 be amended, section 3107.066 (3107.067) be amended for the purpose of adopting a new section number as indicated in parentheses, and new section 3107.066 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 3107.062.  The department of job and family services shall establish a putative father registry. To register, a putative father must complete a registration form prescribed under section 3107.065 of the Revised Code and submit it to the department. The registration form shall include the putative father's name; the name of the mother of the person he claims as his child; and the address or telephone number at which he wishes to receive, pursuant to section 3107.11 of the Revised Code, notice of any petition that may be filed to adopt a minor he claims as his child.

A putative father may register at any time. For the purpose of preserving the requirement of his consent to an adoption, a putative father shall register before or not later than thirty days after the birth of the child. No fee shall be charged for registration.

On receipt of a completed registration form, the department shall indicate on the form the date of receipt and file it in the putative father registry. The department shall maintain registration forms in a manner that enables it to access a registration form using either the name of the putative father or of the mother.

No person shall knowingly make a false registration as a putative father in the registry established under this section.

Sec. 3107.065.  Not later than ninety days after the effective date of this section, the The director of job and family services shall do both of the following:

(A) Adopt adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code governing the putative father registry. The rules shall establish the registration form to be used by a putative father under section 3107.062 of the Revised Code.

(B) Establish a campaign to promote awareness of the putative father registry. The campaign shall include informational materials about the registry.

Sec. 3107.066. (A) The director of job and family services shall establish a campaign to promote awareness of the putative father registry. The campaign shall include informational materials about the registry.

(B) The failure of the director or any other governmental entity to effectively promote awareness of the putative father registry does not relieve a putative father of the consequences of failing to timely register as provided in division (B) of section 3107.07 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3107.066 3107.067.  (A) Notwithstanding the provisions of the versions of former sections 3107.06 and 3107.07 of the Revised Code that, pursuant to Section 5 of Am. Sub. H.B. 419 of the 121st general assembly, apply regarding a putative father's consent to the adoption of any child born prior to January 1, 1997, on and after the effective date of this section August 14, 2008, both of the following apply:

(1) The references in division (F)(4) of former section 3107.06 of the Revised Code to the department of human services are repealed, and division (F)(4) of that former section shall be considered as reading, and shall be applicable, as follows: "Has filed an objection to the adoption with the agency having custody of the minor at any time before the placement of the minor in the home of the petitioner, or with the probate court within thirty days of the filing of a petition to adopt the minor or its placement in the home of the petitioner, whichever occurs first."

(2) The references in division (B) of former section 3107.07 of the Revised Code to the department of human services are repealed, and division (B) of that former section shall be considered as reading, and shall be applicable, as follows: "The putative father of a minor if the putative father fails to file an objection with the court or the agency having custody of the minor as provided in division (F)(4) of section 3107.06 of the Revised Code, or files an objection with the court or agency and the court finds, after proper service of notice and hearing, that he is not the father of the minor, or that he has willfully abandoned or failed to care for and support the minor, or abandoned the mother of the minor during her pregnancy and up to the time of her surrender of the minor, or its placement in the home of the petitioner, whichever occurs first."

(B) As used in this section:

(1) "Former section 3107.06 of the Revised Code" means the version of that section that was in effect immediately prior to September 18, 1996, and that was amended by Am. Sub. H.B. 419 of the 121st general assembly.

(2) "Former section 3107.07 of the Revised Code" means the version of that section that was in effect immediately prior to September 18, 1996, and that was amended by Am. Sub. H.B. 419 of the 121st general assembly.

Sec. 3107.99. (A) Whoever violates division (B)(1) of section 3107.17 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.

(B) Whoever violates section 3107.062 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Section 2.  That existing sections 3107.062, 3107.065, 3107.066, and 3107.99 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.