House Bill 5986 Summary

• Adds subsection (6) requiring courts to automatically terminate parental rights upon sentencing for criminal sexual conduct involving penetration, attempted penetration, or assault with intent to penetrate, without requiring a separate termination hearing.

• Expands the definition of "concerned person" who may petition for termination of parental rights to include foster parents with specific knowledge of parental behavior constituting grounds for termination under abuse or neglect provisions.

• Maintains existing grounds for termination of parental rights including desertion, physical or sexual abuse, failure to comply with court orders, imprisonment, and prior terminations of parental rights to siblings.

• Requires courts to issue opinions or orders on termination petitions within 70 days of the initial hearing, though failure to meet this deadline does not dismiss the petition.

• Establishes that when grounds for termination exist and termination is in the child's best interests, courts must order termination and prohibit further reunification efforts.