H.E.A. 1245, P.L. 16 Effective: July 1, 2017 Provides that a grandparent of a child sought to be adopted is entitled to notice of pending adoption proceedings if: (1) the grandparent has an existing right to petition for visitation; and (2) the grandparent's right to visitation will not be terminated after the adoption. The full law is available at: … [Read more...] about Notice of adoption to grandparents
Access to identifying information
H.E.A. 1274, P.L. 190 Effective: §§1, 5-12 effective April 26, 2017; §2-4 effective July 1, 2017 Requires the State Registrar to search death certificates in the State Registrar's possession and the State and Territorial Exchange of Vital Events (STEVE) Exchange System if an eligible individual submits a request for the release of identifying information of a birth parent or ad … [Read more...] about Access to identifying information
Child in need of services
H.E.A. 1342, P.L. 249 Effective: July 1, 2017 Removes a rebuttable presumption that a child is a child in need of services if a child is born with: (1) fetal alcohol syndrome; (2) neonatal abstinence syndrome; or (3) any amount of a controlled substance or legend drug in the child's body; and there is evidence that a child's mother used a controlled substance or legend drug during … [Read more...] about Child in need of services
Domestic violence fatality review committee
H.E.A. 1516, P.L. 258 Effective: July 1, 2017 Removes the limit on the authority of a local domestic violence review team (local review team) to the review of fatalities when the person who commits domestic violence resulting in death is charged with a criminal offense that results in a final judgment or is deceased. Specifies that local review teams may review near fatalities. … [Read more...] about Domestic violence fatality review committee
Abortion, child abuse, and human trafficking
S.E.A. 404, P.L. 173 Effective: July 1, 2017 Defines "parent or legal guardian or custodian". Prohibits the state or an agency of the state from consenting to the abortion of a pregnant minor unless the life or health of the pregnant minor is endangered. Specifies that before performing an abortion on an unemancipated pregnant minor, a physician must first obtain from a parent, … [Read more...] about Abortion, child abuse, and human trafficking