HB1643 Summary

• Allows a petitioner to name and serve a putative parent as a party in dependency-neglect and termination of parental rights proceedings to resolve party status and rights, or alternatively to provide notice when the putative parent is identified.

• Requires putative parents to prove both paternity and significant contacts with the child for their rights to attach, with DNA testing ordered for any putative parent made a party to a dependency-neglect proceeding.

• Adds a new ground for terminating parental rights when a putative parent has not established paternity or significant contacts after being named as a party or receiving notice of the proceeding.

• Modifies trial home placement provisions in both the Juvenile Code and child welfare law to allow placements up to 60 days without approval or up to 180 days with department consent, and requires courts to consider least restrictive placement options.

• Establishes procedures for dismissing putative parents from cases without further notice when they fail to establish paternity or significant contacts.