Bill > HR7293

This bill, titled the "Protecting Children in Surrogacy Act," aims to prevent individuals who are required to register as sex offenders, known as "covered sex offenders," from obtaining children through surrogacy arrangements. Surrogacy is defined as an agreement where a surrogate mother carries a child for intended parents who will gain custody after birth. The bill makes it a federal crime for a covered sex offender to knowingly obtain a child through surrogacy or enter into a surrogacy contract as an intended parent, with penalties including fines and imprisonment of up to 10 years. This prohibition applies if the surrogacy involves interstate or foreign commerce, such as travel, payments, communications, or the use of goods that have crossed state lines, or if it occurs within U.S. special maritime or territorial jurisdiction or otherwise affects interstate commerce. Furthermore, federal courts are explicitly barred from enforcing any surrogacy contract where an intended parent is a covered sex offender. The bill also grants federal district courts jurisdiction over civil cases involving surrogacy contracts under specific circumstances outlined in the Act, and clarifies definitions for terms like "child" (under 18), "intended parent," and "surrogate mother."

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7293/all-info