Senate Bill 2640 Summary

• Children alleged to be abused or neglected are designated as parties to proceedings and must be represented by counsel at all stages, including shelter hearings.

• Department of Child Protection Services gains the right to be represented by agency counsel at all stages of proceedings involving children in its custody or for whom it may be awarded custody.

• Youth courts must issue summons to the Department of Child Protection Services when petitions involve children in the department's custody or for whom custody may be awarded.

• Termination of parental rights and adoption cases must be docketed as priority cases with immediate judicial notification upon filing to expedite proceedings.

• County courts sitting as youth courts gain original exclusive jurisdiction over adoption proceedings for children in abuse or neglect cases that have already acquired youth court jurisdiction.