The bill amends South Dakota's law regarding the termination of parental rights for parents of children who have been adjudicated as abused or neglected. It expands the criteria under which a court may find good cause for termination of parental rights. The new provisions include various circumstances such as committing specific crimes against the child or another child, a history of abuse and neglect, incarceration, and previous involuntary termination of parental rights. Additionally, it addresses situations where a parent has exposed a child to substantial harm or has failed to protect the child from such harm, particularly if there have been multiple removals of the child from the parent's custody.

Key insertions in the bill include detailed criteria for determining good cause for termination, such as the requirement for a parent to register as a sex offender and the conditions under which a parent may voluntarily terminate their rights, provided it is in the best interest of the child and considers the Indian Child Welfare Act. The bill aims to strengthen the legal framework surrounding the protection of children from abusive or neglectful situations by clearly outlining the circumstances that may warrant the termination of parental rights.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/30/2025: 26-8A-26.1
House Judiciary Engrossed, 02/19/2025: 26-8A-26.1
Enrolled, 03/04/2025: 26-8A-26.1