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Committee approves amended parental-rights reinstatement bill 26–0
Summary
The committee voted unanimously (26–0) to report House Bill 133 as amended, a measure that creates a statutory process for reinstating parental rights in some cases after involuntary termination, with changes to timing and procedural safeguards.
The House Children and Youth Committee voted unanimously to report House Bill 133 as amended, approving statutory changes that would establish a clearer path for reinstating parental rights in selected cases.
Danielle, the committee staff analyst, summarized the bill as an amendment to Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (Domestic Relations), adding clarifying language governing reinstatement after involuntary termination of parental rights. Among the changes the amendment implements are revisions to Section 3001 (including age-based notice and participation for children 14 and older), a change in a timing threshold from one year to 15 months in a specified subsection, and provisions addressing adoptive-parent circumstances and investigatory procedures.
Representative Krayjewski, one of the bill sponsors, urged colleagues to support the measure as a way to standardize a path for parents who have completed reunification work — such as stable housing, substance use recovery or employment — and to ensure county procedures and hearings assess the best interests and desires of the child. Representative McNeil and other members said further tweaks may be considered on the House floor but supported reporting it from committee. Amendment A033341 passed 26–0, and the committee voted 26–0 to report HB 133 as amended.
The committee record notes several stakeholders: Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, the Defender Association of Philadelphia, Children 1st, Philly Voice for Change, Support Center for Child Advocates, and the Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania (listed as supporters), while county child administrators and the County Commissioners Association expressed opposition or concerns about implementation and unintended consequences. Committee sponsors said they intend additional floor-stage refinements to address those concerns.
By reporting the bill as amended, the committee moves the measure to the next legislative step; the transcript does not record a floor date.
