Under existing law, the Department of Human Resources is required to file a petition to terminate the parental rights of a parent or parents of a child who has been in foster care for 15 of the most recent 22 months.
This bill would require the petition to be filed if the child has been in foster care for 12 of the most recent 22 months and could require completion of the trial on a petition for termination of parental rights within 90 days after service of process has been perfected and require the trial court judge to enter a final order within 30 days of the completion of the trial.
This bill would require service by publication if service of process has not been completed within 45 days of filing the petition for termination of parental rights.
This bill would require the court to order service by publication if the child who is the subject of the proceedings was abandoned in the state or evidence is presented indicating the absent parent or parents are avoiding service of process or their whereabouts cannot be reasonably ascertained.
Delivered to Governor at 6:01 p.m. on April 24, 2013
Assigned Act No. 2013-157.
Signature Requested
Enrolled
Passed Second House
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call 760
Third Reading Passed
Read for the second time and placed on the calendar
Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Children and Senior Advocacy
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call 371
Rules Committee Petition to Cease Debate adopted Roll Call 370
Third Reading Passed
Read for the second time and placed on the calendar
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Judiciary
Source: Alabama Legislature