HB12 Summary

• Amends Alabama Code sections 12-15-115, 12-15-117, and 38-10-7 to clarify juvenile court jurisdiction over adoption proceedings transferred from probate court, parentage establishment, and child and spousal support cases under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act.

• Grants juvenile courts general jurisdiction to establish, modify, or enforce support, visitation, or custody when the court has previously established parentage of a child.

• Authorizes juvenile courts to retain jurisdiction to enforce or modify any prior orders issued by the juvenile court in any case where it has jurisdiction, regardless of the age of the individual.

• Provides that any Alabama court determining parentage or establishing, modifying, or enforcing support retains jurisdiction to enforce or modify prior orders of that court unless otherwise provided by law.

• Applies retroactively to cases filed in juvenile court on or after January 1, 2009, prior to the act's effective date, ratifying continuing jurisdiction exercised by juvenile courts and voiding the effect of a 2011 court decision limiting such jurisdiction.