PART D

Sec. D-1. 18-A MRSA §5-101, sub-§(1-A) is enacted to read:

(1-A)__"Parent" means a person who has established a parent- child relationship with the child under Title 19-A, section 1841.

Sec. D-2. 18-A MRSA §9-102, sub-§§(h) and (j), as enacted by PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. C, §7 and affected by Pt. E, §2, are amended to read:

(h) "Parent" means the legal parent or the legal guardian when no legal parent exists. a person who:

(1)__Has established a parent-child relationship with the child under Title 19-A, section 1841; or

(2)__When no person described in paragraph (1) exists, the legal guardian.

(j) "Putative father parent" means a man person who is the alleged biological father parent of a child but whose paternity parentage has not been legally established.

Sec. D-3. 18-A MRSA §9-103, sub-§(a), ¶(5), as enacted by PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. C, §7 and affected by Pt. E, §2, is amended to read:

(5) Proceedings to determine the parentage and rights of putative fathers parents of children whose adoptions or surrenders and releases are pending before the Probate Court; and

Sec. D-4. 18-A MRSA §9-106, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. C, §7 and affected by Pt. E, §2, is amended to read:

§9-106. Legal representation

(a) The biological parents are entitled to an attorney for any hearing held pursuant to this article. If the biological mother or the biological a parent or putative father parent wants an attorney but is unable to afford one, the biological mother or the biological parent or putative father parent may request the court to appoint an attorney. If the court finds either or both of them the parent or putative parent indigent, the court shall appoint and pay the reasonable costs and expenses of the attorney