HB 23-1027: Family Time Provided Pursuant to the Children's Code

• Defines "family time" as any form of contact or engagement between parents, legal custodians, guardians, siblings, and children or youth for purposes of preserving and strengthening family ties.

• Establishes presumption that supervised family time should be provided by informal supports identified by the family (relatives, family friends) and occur in community or homelike settings, rather than professional supervision facilities.

• Requires county departments to provide courts with proposed family time plans within 30 days of removal, including frequency, length, supervision level, and participants; court may only restrict family time if necessary to protect child safety or health.

• Prohibits using family time as a sanction for parental noncompliance with court orders or for child behavioral issues; requires consideration of parent and child preferences regarding supervision, location, and timing.

• Appropriates $142,000 to the judicial department and $13,879 to the department of human services for fiscal year 2023-24 to implement the act; most provisions effective upon passage with Section 4 effective January 1, 2024.