HB96 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul W. LeeRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Juveniles, grounds for termination of parental rights, factors for juvenile courts to consider, permanency plans for children, Secs. 12-15-319, 26-10A-17 am'd.

Summary

The bill changes how Alabama courts decide termination of parental rights by prioritizing the child’s relationship with current foster parents and best interests, limiting when relatives can be considered as guardians, and altering notice requirements in adoptions for terminated parental rights.

What This Bill Does

It requires juvenile courts to weigh the child’s relationship with current foster parents and the child’s best interests when deciding whether to terminate parental rights. It restricts relatives from being considered as guardians if certain conditions aren’t met, such as not attempting to care for the child within four months after removal or when the current foster plan is adoption by the foster parents. It clarifies that individuals whose parental rights have been terminated do not have to be notified of pendency in adoption proceedings involving the child. It adds that the court may consider significant emotional ties between the child and current foster parents, along with factors about the child’s stable placement and overall best interests, when evaluating termination.

Who It Affects

• Children in foster care and their families, whose termination decisions must now consider foster-parent relationships and the child’s best interests.
• Relatives who might seek legal guardianship and individuals whose parental rights have been terminated, who face new guard­ian candidacy rules and altered adoption-notice requirements.

Key Provisions

• Requires juvenile courts to consider the child’s relationship with current foster parents and the child’s best interests when deciding whether to terminate parental rights.
• Relaxes or narrows eligibility for relatives to be considered as guardians if the relative did not meet specified requirements (e.g., lack of timely involvement; current permanency plan is adoption by foster parents).
• Adds consideration of significant emotional ties between the child and current foster parents, including factors such as length of stable placement and potential impact on the child’s best interests.
• Provides that individuals whose parental rights have been terminated are not entitled to receive notice of pendency in adoption proceedings involving the child.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Juveniles