House Committee Substitute

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS IN EMERGENCY PLACEMENTS

This act modifies provisions relating to criminal background checks when there has been an emergency placement of a child in a private home. Under current law, the criminal background check must be made within fifteen business days and there is an exception for conducting background checks for family members who are within the second degree of consanguinity of the child.

This act provides that the criminal background check be made within fifteen calendar days and removes the family member exception. These changes are consistent with Federal Bureau of Investigation regulations on emergency use of its system for background checks for the placement of children in out-of-home care.

These provisions are identical to SB 84 (2007).

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS

This act allows the Children's Division of the Department of Social Services and the Department of Health and Senior Services to waive the fingerprint background check requirement for a foster care applicant when recertifying the foster care home.

These provisions are substantially similar to HB 1210 (2007).

INTERSTATE COMPACT FOR THE PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN

This act revises the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children. The compact is an existing agreement between the states regarding the placement of children from one state to another. The compact facilitates ongoing supervision of a placement, the delivery of services, and communication between the states and ensures that children are placed in safe and suitable homes in a timely manner. Adoption of the revised compact makes Missouri a member of the Interstate Commission for the Placement of Children and requires the state to establish a central state compact office to be responsible for state compliance with the compact and rules of the commission. The compact establishes the powers and duties of the interstate commission and specifies provisions regarding bylaws, structure, rule-making authority, financing mechanism, a process for dispute resolution, and enforcement. The compact becomes effective August 28, 2007, or upon legislative enactment of the compact into law by no less than 35 states, whichever occurs later.

This act requires that a family support team meeting or juvenile court proceeding regarding the termination of parental rights be closed if a parent has terminated, in writing, his or her parental rights regarding a placement in a licensed child placing agency and allows a licensed child placing agency to file a petition for the transfer of custody.

These provisions are substantially similar to HB 954 (2007).

TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS

This act requires a juvenile officer or the juvenile division of the circuit court to file a petition for the termination of parental rights within 60 days of the judicial determination. Filing a petition after 60 days will not prohibit the court's jurisdiction to adjudicate a petition for the termination of parental rights.

These provisions are substantially similar to 935 (2007).

ADRIANE CROUSE