Senate File 2111 - Introduced



                                       SENATE FILE       
                                       BY  WARD


    Passed Senate, Date               Passed House,  Date             
    Vote:  Ayes        Nays           Vote:  Ayes        Nays         
                 Approved                            

                                      A BILL FOR

  1 An Act providing grounds for termination of parental rights under
  2    certain circumstances for parents convicted of certain
  3    felonies.
  4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
  5 TLSB 5351SS 81
  6 jp/sh/8

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  Section 232.116, subsection 1, Code 2005, is
  1  2 amended by adding the following new paragraph:
  1  3    NEW PARAGRAPH.  o.  The parent has been imprisoned for a
  1  4 felony crime against a person including but not limited to a
  1  5 sexual offense or a drug=related offense, and it is unlikely
  1  6 that the parent will be released from prison for a period of
  1  7 five years or more.  In determining whether to terminate the
  1  8 rights of a parent under this paragraph, in addition to the
  1  9 considerations provided in subsections 2 and 3, the court
  1 10 shall give consideration to the availability of a grandparent
  1 11 or other close relative who is willing and suitable to provide
  1 12 long=term foster care or to adopt the child.
  1 13                           EXPLANATION
  1 14    This bill provides grounds for termination of parental
  1 15 rights under Code chapter 232, the juvenile justice code, for
  1 16 a parent who is imprisoned for a felony crime against a person
  1 17 including but not limited to a sexual offense or a drug=
  1 18 related offense, and it is unlikely that the parent will be
  1 19 released from prison for a period of five years or more.  In
  1 20 determining whether to terminate parental rights, in addition
  1 21 to consideration provided under existing law, the court is
  1 22 required to consider the availability of a grandparent or
  1 23 other close relative who is willing and suitable to provide
  1 24 long=term foster care or adopt the child.  The mitigating
  1 25 circumstances that may be considered by the court under
  1 26 existing law include the wishes and needs of the child,
  1 27 parental ability to care for the child, foster care situation
  1 28 of the child, and other circumstances of the child and the
  1 29 child's parent.
  1 30 LSB 5351SS 81
  1 31 jp:nh/sh/8