HB 2585 Summary

• Permits any party to file a verified application for an emergency hearing in deprived child cases that demonstrates harm or threatened harm to a child's health, safety, or welfare.

• Requires courts to conduct emergency hearings within 72 hours of receiving an application, or the presiding judge must conduct a hearing within 24 hours if the assigned court fails to act.

• Authorizes courts to issue emergency orders on their own motion to protect a child's health, safety, and welfare pending hearing on the application.

• Requires courts to assess all costs, attorney fees, and expenses against the movant if any information provided to support the emergency order is found to be false.

• Movant must pay assessed costs within 30 days; failure to pay constitutes contempt punishable by up to 6 months in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both.

• Becomes effective November 1, 2014.