S.B. No. 1291 Summary

• Amends chapter 587A (Child Protective Act) to clarify court jurisdiction and hearing procedures to ensure compliance with federal Title IV-E requirements and maintain approximately $40,000,000 in annual federal funding.

• Clarifies that court jurisdiction extends to child protective proceedings under the current chapter 587A and to any prior proceedings under the former chapter 587.

• Changes language requiring the department to "file a motion to set the case for a termination of parental rights hearing" to "file a motion to terminate parental rights" in multiple sections (587A-28, 587A-30, 587A-31, 587A-33).

• Adds requirement that periodic review hearings occur every six months (instead of up to twelve months) if a child is in permanent custody of the department or an authorized agency.

• Modifies section 587A-34 to require courts to continue prior awards of permanent custody when considering trial home placements and temporary reinstatement of parental rights.

• Effective date: October 1, 2011.