SB 1079 Summary

• Requires all parties, counsel, and courts to adhere to procedural time limits in child placement cases; procedural time limits may not be waived or extended unless necessary for full and fair presentation of evidence.

• Limits continuances beyond 30 days to only extraordinary circumstances (unforeseen or unavoidable acts or omissions) with written findings and motions filed within five days of discovery.

• Caps total extensions of the termination adjudication hearing deadline (Section 8-537) at 60 days unless court makes written findings that substantial evidence shows additional time serves the child's best interest.

• Establishes 90-day deadline for termination adjudication hearings after initial severance hearing and 90-day deadline for guardianship adjudication hearings after initial guardianship hearing.

• Authorizes courts to impose sanctions on parties whose disclosure violations or lack of due diligence caused extensions of procedural time limits.