SB461 Summary

• Amends Section 12-15-312 of the Alabama Code to eliminate the Department of Human Resources' duty to make reasonable efforts to preserve family relationships when a parent has allowed a child to be in the presence of a methamphetamine laboratory or a location where illegal drugs are stored, kept, packaged, diluted, or manufactured.

• Adds "allowing a child to be in the presence of a methamphetamine laboratory" as an aggravated circumstance that exempts parents from the reasonable efforts requirement in parental rights termination proceedings.

• Establishes that when reasonable efforts are not required, a permanency hearing must be held within 30 days to consider in-state or out-of-state placement options for the child.

• Maintains that reasonable efforts to place a child for adoption, with a legal guardian, or legal custodian may be made concurrently with other reasonable efforts.

• Became effective immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (passed May 28, 2015, with 28 yeas and 0 nays).