HCS/SCS/SB 530 - This act modifies provisions relating to termination of parental rights. This act modifies the termination of parental rights provisions by adding to the circumstances under which it is presumed a parent is considered unfit to be a party to the parent and child relationship upon a showing in juvenile court of a consistent pattern of committing a specific abuse.
The new circumstances are:
- If the parent is the birth mother and within 8 hours after a child's birth, she tested positive and over the legal limit (.08 blood alcohol content) for alcohol, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, or a controlled substance or prescription drug, excepting those drugs administered to the mother for medical treatment, and the birth mother is the biological mother of at least one other child who was adjudicated an abused or neglected minor by the mother or the mother has previously failed to complete recommended treatment services by the Children's Division through a family centered services case; or
- If the parent is the birth mother and at the time of the child's birth or within 8 hours after a child's birth, the child tested positive for alcohol, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, or a controlled substance or prescription drug, excepting those drugs present in the mother's body as a result of medical treatment, and the birth mother is the biological mother of at least one other child who was adjudicated an abused or neglected minor by the mother or the mother has previously failed to complete recommended treatment services by the Children's Division through a family centered services case; or
- Within a three-year period immediately prior to termination adjudication, the parent has pled guilty to or has been convicted of a felony involving the possession, manufacture or distribution of cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine and the parent is the biological parent of at least one other child who was adjudicated an abused or neglected minor by such parent or such parent has previously failed to complete recommended treatment services by the Children's Division through a family centered services case.
This act is substantially similar to HB 1492 (2014).
ADRIANE CROUSE