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Committee advances bill to allow simultaneous adoptions after parent relinquishment
Summary
The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee voted to send Senate Bill 1021, which would allow simultaneous adoptions in cases of voluntary parental relinquishment, to the Senate floor with a 'do pass' recommendation.
The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee voted to send Senate Bill 1021 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass. The bill, presented by Jared Larson of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, would change how the department handles "simultaneous adoptions," allowing a termination of parental rights and adoption to proceed at the same time in certain cases after a 2020 Idaho Supreme Court interpretation had prevented that practice.
Larson told senators the change is intended to shorten the time to permanency for children removed from their homes. He said Idaho's average time to permanency exceeds 21 months, compared with a national average just over 16 months, and that statutory and court interpretations currently make simultaneous adoptions unavailable in some cases. Larson said the change will affect a relatively small number of children but could reduce time in foster care for those cases where a parent agrees to termination.
Senator Ricks moved to send the bill to the floor with a "do pass" recommendation; Senator Wintrow seconded. Senator Wintrow and Senator Foreman offered supporting remarks about balancing parental rights and timely permanency. The committee approved the motion by voice vote and the bill will proceed to the Senate floor for further consideration.
