House Bill 20-1104 Summary

• Allows reinstatement of parent-child legal relationships for children in the child welfare system whose parents' rights were terminated or voluntarily relinquished, if the parent has remediated the issues that led to termination.

• Enables county departments or guardians ad litem to file reinstatement petitions when a former parent has been rehabilitated and both the child and parent consent to reinstatement following a successful trial period.

• Requires county departments and guardians ad litem to notify each other and the court within thirty days when a former parent contacts them about possible reinstatement of parental rights.

• Permits parents with pending dependency and neglect cases to pursue voluntary relinquishment under Article 5 instead of involuntary termination, with any relinquishment certified into the dependency and neglect case and remaining parental rights terminated through standard procedures.

• Requires caseworkers to refer requesting parents to relinquishment counseling services upon request when a motion to terminate parental rights has been filed, with counties making reasonable attempts to provide accessible services.