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Committee approves amendment letting human-service zones seek temporary custody for children with severe behavioral diagnoses
Summary
The House Human Services Committee adopted amendments to House Bill 1556 expanding the definition of a "child in need of protection," allowing human-service zones to take temporary custody so children can receive treatment without automatically labeling parents as abusive or neglectful; the panel voted to pass the bill as amended.
The House Human Services Committee adopted an amendment to House Bill 1556 on a voice vote and later voted to give the bill a "do pass" recommendation after considering testimony from the Department of Health and Human Services and the bill sponsor.
The change expands the statutory definition of a “child in need of protection” to include any child who (1) has a licensed diagnosis of a severe mental-health or behavioral disorder from a licensed child psychologist or psychiatrist; (2) has committed an act of violent or similarly dangerous behavior that, if committed by an adult, would be a crime under state law; and (3) whose parent is unable to provide proper care and has a reasonable fear for the safety of other household members. The amendment applies these practices to cases described by Representative Greg Steeman and ties the procedure to the court process already established under chapter 27-20.3.
Jonathan Alm,…
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