BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1701 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 7, 2014 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair AB 1701 (Patterson) - As Amended: April 23, 2014 Policy Committee: JudiciaryVote:9 - 0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: Yes SUMMARY This is the Academy of California Adoption Lawyers' (ACAL) annual adoption bill. It clarifies existing statutory law and adoption consent procedures, codifies existing case law, and simplifies existing local procedures for filing of cases. FISCAL EFFECT Although keyed a reimbursable mandate, there are negligible fiscal impacts to the courts. COMMENTS Purpose . The author states when statutory language is vague or confusing, or when local courts apply different interpretations of the law, this can and does result in unequal treatment for similarly situated adoptive families. The changes in this bill are intended to resolve technical issues and other more substantive issues in order to streamline adoption procedures. There is no opposition to these changes. Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081