The bill HB 553-FN proposes comprehensive amendments to the definitions and criteria surrounding child abuse and neglect within the legal framework. It emphasizes the protection of children's physical, emotional, and psychological welfare, prioritizing the best interests of the child in judicial proceedings. Key insertions include a focus on maintaining family unity and ensuring that children removed from their homes are placed in the least restrictive environments, with frequent reviews to facilitate their return. The bill also revises definitions related to abandonment and abuse, broadening the scope to include various forms of harm and neglect, and introduces new categories of neglect, such as exposure to harmful substances in utero. Additionally, the bill clarifies legal language regarding protective custody and supervision, emphasizing timely court hearings and permanency plans for children in out-of-home placements. It introduces a "trauma-informed" approach and establishes a rebuttable presumption of harm based on parental misconduct. The bill replaces outdated terms and modifies existing definitions to enhance clarity and inclusivity in addressing child welfare issues. Notably, it inserts conditions triggering a rebuttable presumption of harm into the legal framework while removing unclear language. The Department of Health and Human Services and the Judicial Branch have indicated that the bill will not incur additional costs, resulting in no fiscal impact on state finances.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 169-C:2, 169-C:3, 169-C:12-f, 189:10, 632-A:10-d