Foster care; termination of parental rights, independent living needs assessments. (SB472)

Introduced By

Sen. Bryce Reeves (R-Spotsylvania) with support from co-patrons Del. Mark Cole (R-Fredericksburg), Del. Dave LaRock (R-Loudoun), Sen. Janet Howell (D-Reston), and Sen. Mark Peake (R-Lynchburg)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Foster care; termination of parental rights; independent living needs assessments; supervisory spans of control. Requires local boards of social services and child-placing agencies, if the child has been in the custody of a local board or child-placing agency for 15 of the most recent 22 months and no petition for termination of parental rights has been filed with the court, to include in the petition for a permanency planning hearing the reasons why a petition to terminate parental rights has not been filed and the reasonable efforts made regarding reunification or transfer of custody to a relative. The bill requires that local boards and child-placing agencies provide information to birth parents regarding the parent's option to voluntarily terminate parental rights, and that the Commissioner of Social Services develop clear guidance documents regarding the manner in which such information should be relayed. The bill requires the Board of Social Services to promulgate regulations related to termination of parental rights, independent living needs assessments and plans, and reporting requirements for local boards and child-placing agencies. The bill requires the Commissioner to (i) provide training to local boards and child-placing agencies regarding common errors made related to termination of parental rights and (ii) establish a work group to assess the feasibility and costs of establishing supervisory spans of control for foster care supervisors. The work group shall report its findings by November 30, 2020. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/07/2020Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20102607D
01/07/2020Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services
01/14/2020Impact statement from DPB (SB472)
01/17/2020Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute (14-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/17/2020Committee substitute printed 20106005D-S1
01/20/2020Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/21/2020Read second time
01/21/2020Reading of substitute waived
01/21/2020Committee substitute agreed to 20106005D-S1
01/21/2020Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB472S1
01/22/2020Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/27/2020Impact statement from DPB (SB472S1)
02/13/2020Placed on Calendar
02/13/2020Read first time
02/13/2020Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions
02/13/2020Assigned HWI sub: Social Services
02/20/2020Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 0-N)
02/25/2020Reported from Health, Welfare and Institutions (22-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/27/2020Read second time
02/28/2020Read third time
02/28/2020Passed House BLOCK VOTE (100-Y 0-N)
02/28/2020VOTE: Block Vote Passage (100-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/05/2020Enrolled
03/05/2020Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB472ER)
03/05/2020Impact statement from DPB (SB472ER)
03/06/2020Signed by Speaker
03/07/2020Signed by President
03/12/2020Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 12, 2020
03/12/2020G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 11, 2020
04/09/2020G Approved by Governor-Chapter 934 (effective 7/1/20)
04/09/2020G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0934)