The House Judiciary Committee heard HB 1101 on courts for children three years of age and younger authored by Rep. Lauer. The bill establishes a safe baby court as a type of problem solving court. The bill further provides that a child in need of services is an eligible individual for purposes of a problem solving court program and that a parent or guardian of a child in need … [Read more...] about Courts for children three years of age and younger in need of services
Juvenile
Reporting of child abuse or neglect
The House Family, Children and Human Affairs Committee heard HB 1164 authored by Rep. Cash on reporting of child abuse or neglect. The bill provides that staff members of a medical institution, a medical facility, or any other health care facility have a duty to report child abuse within two hours to both the department of child services (DCS) and the local law enforcement … [Read more...] about Reporting of child abuse or neglect
Children in need of services
The House Family, Children and Human Affairs Committee heard HB 1310 authored by Rep. Lauer on children in need of services. The bill provides that if a child has been removed from the child’s parent for at least 12 of the most recent 22 months at the time of a periodic case review, the child’s case plan must include at least one intended permanent or long term arrangement for … [Read more...] about Children in need of services
Family and juvenile law matters
The House Judiciary Committee heard HB 1369 on family and juvenile matters authored by Rep. Julie McGuire. HB 1369 does the following: Rep. McGuire offered an amendment which defines the "act of rape" to include all forms of child molestation and sexual misconduct with a minor. The proposed amendment adds sexual misconduct with a minor as an offense that may be alleged in a … [Read more...] about Family and juvenile law matters
Reunification plan for a child in need of services
The Senate Family and Children Services Committee heard SB 171 on reunification plan for a child in need of services authored by Sen. Greg Walker. The bill amends the circumstances under which reasonable efforts to reunify a child with the child's parent, guardian, or custodian or preserve a child's family are not required. If passed as written, DCS will no longer be required to try … [Read more...] about Reunification plan for a child in need of services