Assembly Bill 837

Relating to: the grounds for involuntary termination of parental rights over a child, appeals of and motions for relief from orders terminating parental rights and denial of visitation by a parent of a child adjudicated to be in need of protection or services; the statement of legislative purpose in the children's code; abuse and neglect of a child; grounds for jurisdiction over a child alleged to be in need of protection or services; criteria for holding a child in physical custody; payment by a parent for alcohol and other drug abuse services or special treatment or care for a child; duties of a county department of human services or social services with respect to child abuse and neglect investigations; grounds for a child abuse restraining order and injunction; the defense in criminal prosecutions based on the privilege of reasonable discipline of a child; determining whether a child alleged to be in need of protection or services needs protection or services that can be ordered by a juvenile court; extension of an informal disposition for a child when the informal disposition is based on allegations that the child is in need of protection or services; the duties of a guardian ad litem appointed in proceedings involving a child alleged to be in need of protection or services; the right to a jury trial in proceedings involving children alleged to be in need of protection or services; the release of certain information, including the results of tests for the human immunodeficiency virus or viral hepatitis, type B, regarding a child to the child's foster parent or treatment foster parent or the operator of a group home or child caring institution in which the child is placed; a county's authority to use certain community aids funds to employ private attorneys for proceedings under the children's code; disclosure of certain information to certain voluntary reporters of suspected or threatened child abuse or neglect; the time by which a detention hearing must be held and the time by which a petition must be filed under the children's code if a child is held in custody; petitioning a court, at the time a petition is filed for involuntary termination of parental rights to a child, for an order prohibiting visitation or contact with that child; the role of foster parents, treatment foster parents and certain other physical custodians in hearings under the children's code; permitting genetic testing for paternity determinations under the children's code, paternity determination proceedings for a child alleged to be in need of protection or services and disclosure of records relating to paternity determination proceedings; guardianship for certain children adjudged to be in need of protection or services; requesting the joint legislative council to study the use, effectiveness and funding of systems and programs directed at the prevention of child abuse and neglect; and discovery in proceedings under the children's code. relating to: the grounds for involuntary termination of parental rights over a child, appeals of and motions for relief from orders terminating parental rights and denial of visitation by a parent of a child adjudicated to be in need of protection or services; the statement of legislative purpose in the children's code; abuse and neglect of a child; grounds for jurisdiction over a child alleged to be in need of protection or services; criteria for holding a child in physical custody; payment by a parent for alcohol and other drug abuse services or special treatment or care for a child; duties of a county department of human services or social services with respect to child abuse and neglect investigations; grounds for a child abuse restraining order and injunction; the defense in criminal prosecutions based on the privilege of reasonable discipline of a child; determining whether a child alleged to be in need of protection or services needs protection or services that can be ordered by a juvenile court; extension of an informal disposition for a child when the informal disposition is based on allegations that the child is in need of protection or services; the duties of a guardian ad litem appointed in proceedings involving a child alleged to be in need of protection or services; the right to a jury trial in proceedings involving children alleged to be in need of protection or services; the release of certain information, including the results of tests for the human immunodeficiency virus or viral hepatitis, type B, regarding a child to the child's foster parent or treatment foster parent or the operator of a group home or child caring institution in which the child is placed; a county's authority to use certain community aids funds to employ private attorneys for proceedings under the children's code; disclosure of certain information to certain voluntary reporters of suspected or threatened child abuse or neglect; the time by which a detention hearing must be held and the time by which a petition must be filed under the children's code if a child is held in custody; petitioning a court, at the time a petition is filed for involuntary termination of parental rights to a child, for an order prohibiting visitation or contact with that child; the role of foster parents, treatment foster parents and certain other physical custodians in hearings under the children's code; permitting genetic testing for paternity determinations under the children's code, paternity determination proceedings for a child alleged to be in need of protection or services and disclosure of records relating to paternity determination proceedings; guardianship for certain children adjudged to be in need of protection or services; requesting the joint legislative council to study the use, effectiveness and funding of systems and programs directed at the prevention of child abuse and neglect; and discovery in proceedings under the children's code.