House Committee Substitute

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 a parent is considered unfit to be a party to the parent and child relationship because of a consistent pattern of committing a specific abuse.

The new circumstances are:

- If the parent is the birth mother and while a child is in utero or within 8 hours after a child's birth, either the child's birth mother or the child has tested positive 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 and has previously failed to complete recommended treatment services by the Children's Division through a family centered services case.

- 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 and 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


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