Bill Text: IA SF275 | 2017-2018 | 87th General Assembly | Enrolled

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Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to termination of parental rights proceedings based upon safety or security concerns. (Formerly SF 189.) Effective 7-1-17.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Passed) 2017-04-21 - Signed by Governor. S.J. 1125. [SF275 Detail]

Download: Iowa-2017-SF275-Enrolled.html

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Senate File 275 - Enrolled




                              SENATE FILE       
                              BY  COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

                              (SUCCESSOR TO SF 189)
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                                   A BILL FOR
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                                        Senate File 275

                             AN ACT
 RELATING TO TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS PROCEEDINGS
    BASED UPON SAFETY OR SECURITY CONCERNS.

 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
    Section 1.  Section 600A.5, Code 2017, is amended to read as
 follows:
    600A.5  Petition for termination == venue == safety or
 security concerns.
    1.  The following persons may petition a juvenile court for
 termination of parental rights under this chapter if the child
 of the parent=child relationship is born or expected to be born
 within one hundred eighty days of the date of petition filing:
    a.  A parent or prospective parent of the parent=child
 relationship.
    b.  A custodian or guardian of the child.
    2.  A petition for termination of parental rights shall be
 filed, and venue shall lie, with the juvenile court in the
 county in which the guardian or custodian of the child resides
 or the child, the biological mother, or the pregnant woman is
 domiciled. If a juvenile court has made an order pertaining
 to a minor child under chapter 232, division III, and that
 order is still in force, the termination proceedings shall be
 conducted pursuant to the provisions of chapter 232, division
 IV.
    3.  A petition for termination of parental rights shall
 include the following:
    a.  The legal name, age and domicile, if any, of the child.
    b.  The names, residences, and domicile of any:
    (1)  Living parents of the child.
    (2)  Guardian of the child.
    (3)  Custodian of the child.
    (4)  Guardian ad litem of the child.
    (5)  Petitioner.
    (6)  Person standing in the place of the parents of the
 child.
    c.  A plain statement of the facts and grounds in section
 600A.8 which indicate that the parent=child relationship should
 be terminated.
    d.  A plain statement explaining why the petitioner does not
 know any of the information required under paragraphs "a" and
 "b" of this subsection.
    e.  The signature and verification of the petitioner.
    4.  If the petitioner alleges and affirms in the verified
 petition that the petitioner has a legitimate concern for the
 safety or security of the child or petitioner, all of the
 following shall apply:
    a.  Notwithstanding subsection 2, the petitioner may file
 the petition in a county within the same judicial district but
 other than those counties specified, and venue shall be in the
 county in which the petition is filed.
    b.  The court shall keep confidential the residence and
 domicile of the child and the petitioner disclosed in the
 petition.


                                                                                            JACK WHITVER


                                                                                            LINDA UPMEYER


                                                                                            W. CHARLES SMITH


                                                                                            TERRY E. BRANSTA

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