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Proposal to let human services zones take custody of children with severe behavioral problems draws mixed reaction
Summary
House Bill 1556 would expand the definition of "child in need of protection" to include children diagnosed with severe behavioral or mental‑health disorders who have committed violent acts and whose parents cannot provide control, supporters and agency counsel told the Senate Human Services Committee.
Representative Greg Steeman and Department of Health and Human Services counsel Jonathan Alm described House Bill 1556 as a narrow change to chapter 27.20.3 that would allow courts to place children with severe behavioral‑health conditions into temporary custody of a human service zone to receive care and to preserve the ability to pursue termination of parental rights where appropriate.
Alm told the committee the bill adds a new subdivision describing a child "who is in need of care and treatment," has been diagnosed with a severe mental‑health condition or behavioral disorder by a licensed child psychologist or psychiatrist, and has committed…
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