HCS/SCS/SB 672 - This act modifies provisions regarding the delegation of the care and custody of a child through a power of attorney and no-contest clauses in trust instruments. NO-CONTEST CLAUSES (456.4-420)
This act provides that a no-contest clause is not enforceable against an interested person filing a motion, pleading, or other claim for relief concerning either a breach of trust by a trustee or for removal of a trustee.
This provision is identical to a provision contained in HB 1650 (2018), HB 1250 (2018), and HCS/SB 909 (2018) and substantially similar to a provision contained in SCS/SB 942 (2018), SCS/HCS/HB 427 (2017), SB 356 (2017), SCS/SB 171 (2017), SCS/HCB 1 (2017), and the truly agreed to and finally passed version of SB 128 (2017).
CHILD CUSTODY THROUGH POWER OF ATTORNEY (211.115, 475.600, 475.602, 475.604, 475.024)
The following provisions of the act may be known as the "Supporting and Strengthening Families Act".
A parent or legal custodian of a child may delegate to an attorney-in-fact, without compensation, any powers regarding the care and custody of a child for a period not to exceed one year, unless an exception applies as specified in the act. Such delegation does not change parental or legal rights established by a court order or deprive the parent or legal custodian of any rights regarding child custody, visitation, or support.
A parent who intentionally uses a power of attorney to permanently avoid legal responsibility for the care of the child is guilty of violating current law on transferring child custody without a court order. A child subject to the power of attorney shall not be considered placed in foster care, and the parties shall not be subject to any licensing regulations for foster care or community care for children.
The use of a power of attorney by a parent who uses a community service program to assist in the delegation of the custody of a child shall not constitute abandonment, abuse, or neglect. Community service programs for families in crisis must conduct a background check of an attorney-in-fact and any adult members of his or her household prior to the placement of the child. Community service programs may not place a child with an attorney-in-fact who has committed a felony or is on either the child abuse and neglect registry or sex offender registry. If the community service program has reasonable cause to suspect that a parent is using a power of attorney to permanently avoid legal responsibility for the care of the child, then the program shall report the parent to the Children's Division, who shall conduct an investigation. Personnel and volunteers of a community service program are required to report to the Children's Division if he or she suspects that a child is being abused or neglected.
An attorney-in-fact must make arrangements to ensure that the child attends classes at an appropriate school based upon the residency requirements of the school, and the child's school shall be notified of the existence of the power of attorney and be provided a copy of the power of attorney. The delegation of care under the act shall not modify a child's eligibility for benefits, such as free or reduced lunch, that the child is receiving at the time of the execution of the power of attorney.
Finally, this act specifies the information to be included on a form delegating any powers regarding the care and custody of a child under this act.
These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed version of SB 819 (2018) and similar to SB 195 (2017), to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed version of SB 128 (2017), SB 801 (2016), HB 1433 (2016), and HB 684 (2015).
JESSI JAMES