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House clarifies child-abuse definition to exempt parents who exhausted treatment options
Summary
The House concurred in an amendment clarifying that parents who have exhausted mental-health treatment options for their children are not automatically placed on the child-abuse registry; legislators raised questions about access to services and whether parental rights remain protected.
Representatives debated a Senate amendment to House File 2256 that revises the statutory definition of child abuse to make clear that a parent has "exhausted all mental health treatment options" and should not be treated as an abuser solely for seeking emergency care when no services are available. Sponsor remarks characterized the change as protecting parents who seek necessary treatment when services are lacking.
In a floor exchange, Representative Jacoby asked whether parents would have to give up parental rights to access services; the representative asked, "But do they have to give up their parental rights?" The sponsor responded that parents would not have to give up parental rights. Other members noted that the change addresses cases where parents had no alternative but to seek emergency treatment, and urged the Legislature to also address gaps in available services.
The House concurred in the Senate amendment and passed the bill on a recorded vote (90 yeas, 0 nays, 10 absent). The floor debate emphasized protecting parental rights while calling for increased services for children.
