MO HB547

Requires juvenile officers or the division to file termination of parental rights petitions within 60 days when a child has been in foster care for at least 15 of the most recent 22 months, or when a court determines a child is an abandoned infant.

Allows juvenile officers or the division to decline filing termination petitions if the child is being cared for by a relative, if compelling reasons exist that filing would not serve the child's best interest, or if the family has not been provided required services.

Adds requirement that when child abuse or neglect grounds are used for termination, the court must find the parent is "unfit at the time of termination," strengthening the standard for this category.

Establishes that when considering termination under certain grounds, courts must evaluate factors including the parent's emotional ties to the child, visitation history, financial contributions, and whether additional services could enable the child's return within a reasonable timeframe.

Clarifies that a parent's disability or disease cannot be grounds for termination without specific evidence showing a causal relationship between the disability and harm to the child.