HB157 Summary

• Amends Alabama Code Section 12-15-319 to require juvenile courts to consider a child's relationship with current foster parents and the child's best interests when determining whether to terminate parental rights.

• Adds new factor (13) to parental rights termination criteria, considering significant emotional ties between child and current foster parents, including the length of stable placement, whether severance harms the child's best interests, and whether at least one other ground for termination exists.

• Restricts juvenile courts from considering relatives as candidates for legal guardianship if the relative failed to attempt caring for or obtaining custody of the child within four months of removal from parents and the current permanency plan goal is adoption by foster parents.

• Modifies Section 26-10A-17 to clarify that individuals whose parental rights have been terminated are not entitled to receive notice of pendency in adoption proceedings involving the child.

• Became effective immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (House passed February 25, 2020; Senate passed March 5, 2020).