Surrogacy agreements.

The Uniform Parentage Act defines the parent and child relationship as the legal relationship existing between a child and the child's parents, and governs proceedings to establish that relationship. Existing law provides that a party to an assisted reproduction agreement may bring an action under the Uniform Parentage Act at any time to establish a parent and child relationship consistent with the intent expressed in the agreement. Existing law also regulates the practice of surrogacy facilitators in assisted reproduction agreements, including surrogacy agreements. This bill would require a surrogate mother and the intended parent or intended parents, as defined, to be represented by separate independent counsel of their choosing prior to executing an assisted reproduction agreement for gestational carriers, as defined. The bill also would require an assisted reproduction agreement for gestational carriers to contain specified information. The bill would require the assisted reproduction agreement for gestational carriers to be executed by the parties and notarized or otherwise witnessed, as specified. The bill would prohibit the parties to an assisted reproduction agreement for gestational carriers from undergoing an embryo transfer procedure or commencing injectable medication for assisted reproduction until the assisted reproduction agreement for gestational carriers has been fully executed pursuant to the requirements of these provisions. The bill would permit an action to establish the parent-child relationship to be filed before the child's birth, and would specify where that action may be filed. The bill would require the parties to the assisted reproduction agreement for gestational carriers to attest, under penalty of perjury, and to the best of their knowledge and belief, as to their compliance with these provisions. By expanding the existing crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would provide that an assisted reproduction agreement for gestational carriers executed in accordance with these provisions is presumptively valid. The bill would provide that the assisted reproduction agreement for gestational carriers and related documents are not open to inspection, except by the parties to the proceeding and their attorneys and the State Department of Social Services, except as specified. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.