AB 560

This bill expands the termination of parental rights (TPR) ground based on a

child's continuing need of protection or services. Current law provides various

grounds for an involuntary TPR, including continuing need of protection or services,

which must be established by proving 1) that the child has been adjudged to be a child

or juvenile in need of protection or services (CHIPS) and placed, or continued in a

placement, outside the child's home pursuant to one or more orders of the court

assigned to exercise jurisdiction under the Children's Code (juvenile court); 2) that

the agency responsible for the care of the child has made a reasonable effort to

provide the services ordered by the juvenile court; and 3) that the child has been

outside the home for a cumulative total period of six months or longer, the parent has

failed to meet the conditions established for the safe return of the child to the home,

and there is a substantial likelihood that the parent will not meet those conditions

by the time the child has been placed outside the home for 15 of the last 22 months.

Under current law, if a child is placed outside of his or her home on a CHIPS

order for 15 of the last 22 months, an agency or the district attorney, corporation

counsel, or other appropriate official must file a TPR petition against the parent or

parents. Under current law, if such a petition is filed, the petitioner must establish

that grounds exist for an involuntary TPR. Under this bill, the involuntary TPR

ground of continuing need of protection or services may be established by proving

that a child has been placed outside of his or her home on a continuing CHIPS order

for 15 of the last 22 months.