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Committee approves amendment to expand abuse definition, adds reunification requirements; bill moves to full judiciary 7-0
Summary
House Bill 13 60, as amended, would expand the statutory definition of abuse to include an 18-year-old witnessing abuse and require parents to complete specified services and ensure children receive domestic violence counseling before reunification; the subcommittee adopted amendment 6,094 and voted 7-0 to send the bill to full judiciary.
Chairlady Littleton presented House Bill 13 60 and amendment code 6,094 to the Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee on March 25. The amendment expands the statutory definition of abuse and sets conditions for reunification when abuse has led to a child's removal.
The amendment, summarized by the sponsor, “expands the definition of abuse to include when a person 18 years of age witnesses either the abuse or domestic abuse of another child or, in their immediate family or household.” It also holds that when a child is removed from parental custody because of a finding of abuse and is placed in foster care, reunification may occur only after the parent achieves sufficient progress on the permanency plan, completes required services addressing domestic violence (if applicable), and the child has received mental-health counseling that includes domestic-violence therapy.
The committee attached amendment 6,094, called the question and recorded a roll-call vote of seven ayes, zero nos. House Bill 13 60 as amended was sent to full judiciary.
The sponsor and members said the changes are intended to protect children from exposure to domestic violence while still creating a pathway for safe reunification when parents make required progress.
Next steps: House Bill 13 60 as amended proceeds to the full judiciary committee for further consideration.
