House Bill 918 Summary

• Changes permanency planning hearing requirement from 12 months to 9 months after initial order removing child custody to expedite permanent placement decisions.

• Creates presumption that foster parents with whom a child has lived continuously for at least 9 months are deemed nonrelative kin eligible for placement consideration.

• Reduces residency requirement for filing parental rights termination petition from 2 years to 15 months for persons with whom a juvenile has resided continuously.

• Expands definition of neglect to include parental use of illegal controlled substances or abuse of alcohol/controlled substances when parent is unable to provide safe home for child.

• Requires Division of Social Services to post semi-annual reports (by June 30 and December 31) on website documenting SNAP and TANF benefits accessed or expended in-state and out-of-state by location and transaction details, with proper redaction of individual recipient identification.