BILL NUMBER: AB 1679	CHAPTERED  07/01/08

	CHAPTER  50
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 1, 2008
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JULY 1, 2008
	PASSED THE SENATE  JUNE 19, 2008
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JUNE 23, 2008
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 17, 2008
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 3, 2008
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 14, 2007
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 23, 2007
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 9, 2007

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Evans

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2007

   An act to amend Section 7643 of the Family Code, relating to
paternity actions.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1679, Evans. Paternity actions: records.
   The Uniform Parentage Act governs the determination of parent and
child relationships in this state, including a judgment of paternity.
Existing law requires that, in a trial or hearing held pursuant to
provisions governing paternity, papers and records, other than the
final judgment, pertaining to the action or proceeding, whether part
of the permanent record of the court or of a file in a public agency
or elsewhere, are subject to inspection only in exceptional cases
upon an order of the court for good cause shown. However, papers and
records pertaining to the action or proceeding that are part of the
permanent record of the court are subject to inspection by the
parties to the action and their attorneys.
   This bill would additionally authorize an agent acting pursuant to
written authorization from the parties to the action or their
attorneys to inspect those records, as specified.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 7643 of the Family Code is amended to read:
   7643.  (a) Notwithstanding any other law concerning public
hearings and records, a hearing or trial held under this part may be
held in closed court without admittance of any person other than
those necessary to the action or proceeding. Except as provided in
subdivision (b), all papers and records, other than the final
judgment, pertaining to the action or proceeding, whether part of the
permanent record of the court or of a file in a public agency or
elsewhere, are subject to inspection only in exceptional cases upon
an order of the court for good cause shown.
   (b) Papers and records pertaining to the action or proceeding that
are part of the permanent record of the court are subject to
inspection by the parties to the action, their attorneys, and by
agents acting pursuant to written authorization from the parties to
the action or their attorneys. An attorney shall obtain the consent
of the party to the action prior to authorizing an agent to inspect
the permanent record. An attorney shall also state on the written
authorization that he or she has obtained the consent of the party to
authorize an agent to inspect the permanent record.