Senate File 344 - Introduced SENATE FILE 344 BY ZAUN A BILL FOR An Act relating to the grounds for termination of parental 1 rights. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 2266XS (4) 85 pf/nh

S.F. 344 Section 1. Section 600A.8, Code 2013, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 11. a. The parent is palpably unfit to 3 be a party to the parent-child relationship as determined by a 4 consistent pattern of specific conduct or specific conditions 5 directly relating to the parent-child relationship which are 6 determined by the court to be of a duration or nature that 7 renders the parent unable, for the reasonably foreseeable 8 future, to provide the appropriate care and support for the 9 ongoing physical, mental, or emotional needs of the child. 10 b. In making a determination that a parent is palpably 11 unfit, the court may consider any specific conduct or specific 12 conditions directly relating to the parent-child relationship 13 that the court deems significant in rendering the parent 14 unable to provide the appropriate care and support for the 15 ongoing physical, mental, or emotional needs of the child. 16 Such conduct or conditions may include but are not limited to 17 the parent’s history relating to a substance-related disorder 18 as defined in section 125.2 that results in the parent being 19 a danger to self or others as evidenced by prior acts; the 20 parent’s history of domestic abuse assault pursuant to section 21 708.2A; the parent’s history of imprisonment for a felony 22 offense including any crime against a child; or the parent’s 23 current imprisonment from which the parent is unlikely to be 24 released in five years or less. 25 EXPLANATION 26 This bill provides an additional ground for termination of 27 parental rights. The bill provides that under Code chapter 28 600A, the court may order the termination of parental rights if 29 the court finds the parent to be palpably unfit as determined 30 by a consistent pattern of specific conduct or specific 31 conditions directly relating to the parent-child relationship 32 which are determined by the court to be of a duration or nature 33 that renders the parent unable, for the reasonably foreseeable 34 future, to provide the appropriate care and support for the 35 -1- LSB 2266XS (4) 85 pf/nh 1/ 2

S.F. 344 ongoing physical, mental, or emotional needs of the child. The 1 bill provides that in making a determination that a parent is 2 palpably unfit, the court may consider any specific conduct 3 or specific conditions directly relating to the parent-child 4 relationship that the court deems significant in rendering the 5 parent unable to provide the appropriate care and support for 6 the ongoing physical, mental, or emotional needs of the child. 7 Such conduct or conditions may include but are not limited to 8 the parent’s history relating to a substance-related disorder 9 as defined in Code section 125.2 that results in the parent 10 being a danger to self or others as evidenced by prior acts; 11 the parent’s history of domestic abuse assault pursuant to 12 Code section 708.2A; the parent’s history of imprisonment for 13 a felony offense including any crime against a child; or the 14 parent’s current imprisonment from which the parent is unlikely 15 to be released in five years or less. 16 -2- LSB 2266XS (4) 85 pf/nh 2/ 2