The Senate Family and Children Services Committee heard SB 159 on notification of abuse or neglect assessment authored by Sen. Banks and Sen. Grooms. This bill requires notification to the U.S. Department of Defense if a child of a parent, guardian or custodian on active duty in the military is the subject of an allegation of abuse or neglect. Committee members expressed concern a … [Read more...] about Notification of abuse or neglect assessment
children
Department of Child Services matters
The Senate Family and Children Services Committee heard SB 305 on Department of Child Services matters authored by Sen. Head. This bill makes a child who is a victim of human trafficking a new CHINS category, and other CHINS changes. It also removes a requirement that a delinquent be removed from the home in order to have DCS pay for services in an informal adjustment, deletes … [Read more...] about Department of Child Services matters
Terminating the parent-child relationship
The House Judiciary Committee heard HB 1064 authored by Rep. Slager on terminating the parent-child relationship. The bill allows a parent, who is a victim of rape resulting in the conception of a child, to file a petition to terminate the parental rights of the alleged rapist. The bill includes time frames for filing a petition depending on the age of the parent/victim. Testimony in … [Read more...] about Terminating the parent-child relationship
Child molesting
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard Sen. Broden’s SB 363, on child molesting. This bill defines "dangerous sexually transmitted disease" and increases the penalty for child molesting from a Level 3 felony to a Level 1 felony if the offense results in the transmission of a dangerous sexually transmitted disease. An amendment adopted by consent denies guardianship t … [Read more...] about Child molesting
Department of Child Service reporting
The Senate Family and Children Services Committee heard SB 364, concerning Department of Child Service Reporting, authored by Sen. Broden and Sen. Grooms. The chair presented the bill, which amends the definition of “near fatality” for confidential records purposes involving such cases. The new definition means a severe childhood injury or condition that results in a child recei … [Read more...] about Department of Child Service reporting