House Bill 23-1172: Changes to Child Welfare Proceedings

• Allows juvenile courts to enter permanent orders allocating parental responsibilities, parenting time, and child support when a district court lacks continuing jurisdiction over the child custody case and certain conditions are met regarding parental adjudications.

• Requires parents or custodians with whom the child resides to file a certified copy of the juvenile court's order in district court, where it must be treated as any other parental responsibility decree.

• Expands name change petition jurisdiction to allow minors under 19 in dependency and neglect proceedings, and youth under 21 in foster care transition programs, to file petitions in the court handling their child welfare case rather than only in their county of residence.

• Eliminates the publication requirement for name changes when the petitioner is a child or youth adjudicated as dependent or neglected or subject to continued adjudication.

• Takes effect at 12:01 a.m. the day after the 90-day period following final adjournment of the general assembly, unless subject to a referendum petition.