SB307 Alabama 2013 Session

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.

Relating to the termination of parental rights; to amend Sections 12-15-317, 12-15-318, and 12-15-320, Code of Alabama 1975; to require the Department of Human Resources to file a petition to terminate the parental rights of a parent or parents of a child who has been in foster care for 12 of the most recent 22 months; to require the completion of the trial on a petition for termination of parental rights within ays after service of process has been perfected; to require the trial court judge to enter a final order within 30 days of the completion of the trial; to require service by publication if service of process has not been completed within 45 days of the filing of the petition for termination of parental rights; and to 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.