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Subcommittee discusses HB48 to limit automatic denial of reunification after prior involuntary termination of parental rights
Summary
House Bill 48 would prevent automatic denial of reunification efforts for subsequent children solely because a parent previously lost parental rights involuntarily; DHS expressed support, coalition groups proposed a drafting change to preserve judicial discretion, and the Office of the Public Defender urged removing mandatory waiver language.
The Family Law Subcommittee discussed House Bill 48, a CINA (child in need of assistance) and terminating parental rights bill sponsored by Delegate Tolls that would change how courts treat parents who previously had parental rights terminated. The sponsor said the bill would allow parents who previously had children removed to avoid automatic removal of subsequent children solely because of a prior involuntary termination.
Heather Zanotti, assistant secretary for policy and data at the Maryland Department of Human Services, told the subcommittee DHS supports HB48 and urged…
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