§ 14-19-08 — Powers and duties of the department

The department shall:
1. Provide each birthing hospital and voluntary paternity establishment service entity in
the state:
a. Written materials about paternity establishment.
b. Forms necessary to voluntarily acknowledge paternity.
c. A written description of the rights and responsibilities of acknowledging paternity.
2. Provide training, guidance, and written instructions regarding voluntary
acknowledgment of paternity reasonably necessary to assist a birthing hospital or
voluntary paternity establishment service entity in its duties under this chapter.
3. Secure information on each voluntary paternity establishment service entity's and each
birthing hospital's paternity acknowledgment program at least annually.
4. In cases involving applications for child support services made to a child support
agency which require paternity establishment, determine if a voluntary paternity
acknowledgment has been filed with the department.
5. Assure that the same procedures governing birthing hospitals apply to voluntary
paternity establishment service entities, including use of the same notice provisions,
the same materials, the same evaluation methods, and the same training for
personnel.