MO HB1492

Amends section 211.183 to define "reasonable efforts" in child removal cases as exercise of reasonable diligence by the Division of Family Services with child's health and safety as paramount consideration, and allows courts to determine removal is necessary even if preventive efforts were not reasonable.

Adds new circumstances where the Division is not required to make reasonable efforts to reunify families, including when a parent has substance dependency issues, prior failed reunification efforts, history of child maltreatment, or prior involuntary termination of parental rights to another child.

Modifies section 211.447 to require filing termination of parental rights petitions when a child has been in foster care for at least 15 of the most recent 22 months, with exceptions if the child is in relative care or compelling reasons exist not to file.

Establishes new presumption that a parent is unfit if within three years prior to termination, the parent's rights to another child were involuntarily terminated, or if the parent tested positive for cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine while pregnant or at child's birth and has other children adjudicated abused or neglected.

Adds presumption of parental unfitness if parent pled guilty to or was convicted of felony drug possession, distribution, or manufacture of cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine within three years prior to termination and is biological parent of another child adjudicated abused or neglected.