SB307 - The Best Interests of the Child Act of 2013

• Department of Human Resources must file a petition to terminate parental rights when a child has been in foster care for 12 of the most recent 22 months, unless an exception applies (child in relative care, compelling reason documented, or required services not provided).

• Trial on termination of parental rights petition must be completed within 90 days after service of process is perfected, and trial court judge must enter final order within 30 days of trial completion.

• Service of process by publication is required if service has not been completed within 45 days of filing the petition, and may be ordered when the child was abandoned in the state or evidence shows the parent is avoiding service or their whereabouts cannot be reasonably ascertained.

• Service by publication must occur at least once per week for four consecutive weeks in newspapers of general circulation in the county of the juvenile court and the county of the parent's last known address.

• Termination of parental rights cases receive priority over other cases in the juvenile court docket.