7962
. (a) An assisted reproduction agreement for gestational
carriers shall contain, but shall not be limited to, all of the
following information:
(1) The date on which the assisted reproduction agreement for
gestational carriers was executed.
(2) The persons from which the gametes originated, unless
anonymously donated.
(3) The identity of the intended parent or parents.
(4) Disclosure of how the intended parents will cover the medical
expenses of the gestational carrier and of the newborn or newborns.
If health care coverage is used to cover those medical expenses, the
disclosure shall include a review of the health care policy
provisions related to coverage for surrogate pregnancy, including any
possible liability of the gestational carrier, third-party liability
liens or other insurance coverage, and any notice requirements that
could affect coverage or liability of the gestational carrier. The
review and disclosure do not constitute legal advice. If coverage of
liability is uncertain, a statement of that fact shall be sufficient
to meet the requirements of this section.
(b) Prior to executing the written assisted reproduction agreement
for gestational carriers, a surrogate and the intended parent or
intended parents shall be represented by separate independent
licensed attorneys of their choosing.
(c) The assisted reproduction agreement for gestational carriers
shall be executed by the parties and the signatures on the assisted
reproduction agreement for gestational carriers shall be notarized or
witnessed by an equivalent method of affirmation as required in the
jurisdiction where the assisted reproduction agreement for
gestational carriers is executed.
(d) The parties to an assisted reproduction agreement for
gestational carriers shall not undergo an embryo transfer procedure,
or commence injectable medication in preparation for an embryo
transfer for assisted reproduction purposes, until the assisted
reproduction agreement for gestational carriers has been fully
executed as required by subdivisions (b) and (c) of this section.
(e) An action to establish the parent-child relationship between
the intended parent or parents and the child as to a child conceived
pursuant to an assisted reproduction agreement for gestational
carriers may be filed before the child's birth and may be filed in
the county where the child is anticipated to be born, the county
where the intended parent or intended parents reside, the county
where the surrogate resides, the county where the assisted
reproduction agreement for gestational carriers is executed, or the
county where medical procedures pursuant to the agreement are to be
performed. A copy of the assisted reproduction agreement for
gestational carriers shall be lodged in the court action filed for
the purpose of establishing the parent-child relationship. The
parties to the assisted reproduction agreement for gestational
carriers shall attest, under penalty of perjury, and to the best of
their knowledge and belief, as to the parties' compliance with this
section in entering into the assisted reproduction agreement for
gestational carriers. Submitting those declarations shall not
constitute a waiver, under Section 912 of the Evidence Code, of the
lawyer-client privilege described in Article 3 (commencing with
Section 950) of Chapter 4 of Division 8 of the Evidence Code.
(f) (1) A notarized assisted reproduction agreement for
gestational carriers signed by all the parties, with the attached
declarations of independent attorneys, and lodged with the superior
court in accordance with this section, shall rebut any presumptions
contained within Part 2 (commencing with Section 7540), subdivision
(b) of Section 7610, and Sections 7611 and 7613, as to the
gestational carrier surrogate, her spouse, or partner being a parent
of the child or children.
(2) Upon petition of any party to a properly executed assisted
reproduction agreement for gestational carriers, the court shall
issue a judgment or order establishing a parent-child relationship,
whether pursuant to Section 7630 or otherwise. The judgment or order
may be issued before or after the child's or children's birth subject
to the limitations of Section 7633. Subject to proof of compliance
with this section, the judgment or order shall establish the
parent-child relationship of the intended parent or intended parents
identified in the surrogacy agreement and shall establish that the
surrogate, her spouse, or partner is not a parent of, and has no
parental rights or duties with respect to, the child or children. The
judgment or order shall terminate any parental rights of the
surrogate and her spouse or partner without further hearing or
evidence, unless the court or a party to the assisted reproduction
agreement for gestational carriers has a good faith, reasonable
belief that the assisted reproduction agreement for gestational
carriers or attorney declarations were not executed in accordance
with this section. Upon motion by a party to the assisted
reproduction agreement for gestational carriers, the matter shall be
scheduled for hearing before a judgment or order is issued. Nothing
in this section shall be construed to prevent a court from finding
and declaring that the intended parent is or intended parents are the
parent or parents of the child where compliance with this section
has not been met; however, the court shall require sufficient proof
entitling the parties to the relief sought.
(g) The petition, relinquishment or consent, agreement, order,
report to the court from any investigating agency, and any power of
attorney and deposition filed in the office of the clerk of the court
pursuant to this part shall not be open to inspection by any person
other than the parties to the proceeding and their attorneys and the
State Department of Social Services, except upon the written
authority of a judge of the superior court. A judge of the superior
court shall not authorize anyone to inspect the petition,
relinquishment or consent, agreement, order, report to the court from
any investigating agency, or power of attorney or deposition, or any
portion of those documents, except in exceptional circumstances and
where necessary. The petitioner may be required to pay the expense of
preparing the copies of the documents to be inspected.
(h) Upon the written request of any party to the proceeding and
the order of any judge of the superior court, the clerk of the court
shall not provide any documents referred to in subdivision (g) for
inspection or copying to any other person, unless the name of the
gestational carrier or any information tending to identify the
gestational carrier is deleted from the documents or copies thereof.
(i) An assisted reproduction agreement for gestational carriers
executed in accordance with this section is presumptively valid and
shall not be rescinded or revoked without a court order. For purposes
of this part, any failure to comply with the requirements of this
section shall rebut the presumption of the validity of the assisted
reproduction agreement for gestational carriers.