SB307 Alabama 2013 Session

Updated Feb 25, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jerry L. Fielding
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2013
Title: Foster children, Human Resources Dept., termination of parental rights, time for filing for shortened, service by publication in certain circumstances, Secs. 12-15-317, 12-15-318, 12-15-320 am'd.
Summary: SB307 speeds up when and how Alabama can terminate parental rights for foster children, mandating DHR action, faster court timelines, and use of publication service when needed.
What This Bill Does
It requires the Department of Human Resources to file a petition to terminate parental rights in specific foster-care situations, including when a child has been in foster care for 12 of the last 22 months or in cases of abandonment or serious harm by a parent. The trial on the termination petition must be completed within 90 days after service is perfected, and the judge must issue a final order within 30 days after the trial. If service isn’t completed within 45 days after filing, service by publication must be requested and, in certain cases (abandoned child or when a parent cannot be located or is avoiding service), ordered. The act also prioritizes termination cases and allows permanent custody to transfer to the Department or a licensed agency, or to a capable petitioner for adoption.

Who It Affects
Foster children in Alabama and their potential adoptive families, who would see a faster, more streamlined termination and adoption process.
Parents or guardians of these foster children, who could have their parental rights terminated under clearly defined conditions and face new service and timing requirements.

Key Provisions
Mandatory filing of a petition to terminate parental rights by the Department of Human Resources in specific circumstances (child in foster care for 12 of the last 22 months; abandonment; parent murder or manslaughter of another child; parent’s involvement in murder/manslaughter of another child; or felony assault causing serious injury).
Exceptions to mandatory filing include care by a relative, compelling reasons not to file per the individualized service plan, or failure to provide reasonable services to safely return the child home.
The Department must identify and recruit an adoptive family concurrently with filing or joining the petition.
Service of process rules: if not completed within 45 days of filing, service by publication is required; publication is allowed when the child was abandoned in the state or when the absent parent is avoiding service or cannot be located.
Publication details: service by publication must be in a newspaper with general circulation in the relevant counties, weekly for four consecutive weeks.
Timelines: termination trials must be completed within 90 days after service is perfected, and the final order must be entered within 30 days after trial.
Permanency after termination: the court may transfer permanent legal custody to the Department or a licensed agency for adoption, or to the petitioner found capable by the Department.
Effective date: the act becomes law immediately upon approval by the Governor.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Family Law