The bill amends Idaho Code Sections 16-1602 and 16-2005 to strengthen child protection laws. It introduces a new definition of "visitation" in Section 16-1602, which includes various forms of contact between a child and their parent, guardian, or custodian, such as in-person visits, video communication, telephonic contact, and written communication. The bill also stipulates that in cases of substantiated sexual or physical abuse claims against a parent, guardian, or custodian, in-person visitation is only allowed if the court finds it in the child's best interest and specific safety conditions are met.

In Section 16-2005, the bill revises the criteria for terminating parental rights, maintaining existing grounds like abandonment and neglect while removing the provision that allowed termination based on a parent's inability to fulfill responsibilities without a specified prolonged period. It introduces new criteria for cases involving incarcerated parents, allowing for termination if the parent is likely to remain incarcerated for a significant portion of the child's minority. The bill also outlines factors for the court to consider regarding the child's best interests and establishes that termination orders can be granted under specific circumstances, such as rape or chronic abuse. It clarifies that parental rights cannot be terminated solely based on a child's immunization status and streamlines the process for termination when consent is provided in conjunction with an adoption petition. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 16-1602, 16-2005