This bill amends Section 16-2005 of the Idaho Code, which outlines the conditions under which a court may grant the termination of parental rights. The amendments include new provisions that allow for rebuttable presumptions in favor of termination when a parent has caused a child to be conceived through rape, incest, or sexual abuse, and expands the definitions of sexual abuse to include convictions against any child. Additionally, the bill specifies that the court cannot terminate parental rights based solely on a child's immunization status and allows for termination if it is deemed in the best interest of both the parent and child.

The bill also introduces procedural changes regarding consent for termination, requiring that consents must be witnessed by a judicial officer and clarifying the acceptance of consents or relinquishments executed in other states. It emphasizes the rights of parents with disabilities to present evidence on how adaptive equipment or supportive services can assist them in fulfilling their parenting responsibilities. The bill declares an emergency, making it effective on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 16-2005