HB481--UNIFORMCHILDABDUCTIONPREVENTIONACT
SPONSOR: Hausman
Currently,acourtmaycommunicatewithacourtinanotherstate
concerningproceedingsarisingoutoftheUniformChildCustody
JurisdictionandEnforcementAct(UCCJEA). Thisbillallowsthis
communicationwithproceedingsarisingoutofthe"UniformChild
AbductionPreventionAct"asestablishedinthisbill.Thebill
alsomodifiestheprocedurewhenseekingenforcementofachild
custodydeterminationunderUCCJEA.
Thebillestablishesthe"UniformChildAbductionPreventionAct".
TheActspecifiesthatpartiestoachildcustodydetermination, as
definedinthebill,canpetitionthecourtseekingabduction
preventionmeasurestoprotectthechild.Thepetitionmustbe
filedinacourtwithjurisdictiontomakechildcustody
determinations. Missouricourtswillhavetemporaryemergency
jurisdictionunderSection452.755,RSMo,ifthecourtfindsa
credibleriskofabduction. Thisbillalsoidentifiesthe
procedureforfilingthepetitionandtheinformationthatshould
beincluded.
Furthermore,acourtonitsownmotioncanorderabduction
preventionmeasuresinachildcustodyproceedingifitfinds
evidencethatthereisacredibleriskofthechildbeingabducted.
Thebillspecifiesthefactorsthecourtmustconsiderwhen
determiningwhetherthereisacredibleriskofabduction. The
billalsospecifieswhatacourtordermustinclude,especially
whenthecourtentersanabductionpreventionorder,andwhat
measuresacourtmayimplementtopreventtheimminentabductionof
achild.
Ifanabductionpreventionorderisgrantedanddoesnothavea
specifiedtimeperiod,theorderwillterminatewhenthechildis
emancipatedorattainstheageof18,ortheorderismodifiedor
revoked.
Thebillalsoestablishesthe"UniformUnregulatedChildCustody
TransferAct".TheActspecifiesthataparentorguardianofa
childoranindividualwithwhomachildhasbeenplacedfor
adoptionmaynottransfercustodyofthechildtoanotherperson,
subjecttoexceptionsinthebill,withtheintent,atthetimeof
thetransfer,toabandontherightsandresponsibilities concerning
thechild.Thattypeoftransferisallowedonlythroughthe
methodsspecifiedinthebill.
Apersonmaynotreceivecustodyofachild,oractasan
intermediaryinatransferofcustodyofachild,iftheperson knowsorreasonablyshouldknowthetransferviolatesanyprovision
inthebill.ThepersonmustnotifyChildren'sDivisionwithinthe
DepartmentofSocialServicesofthetransferviolationassoonas
practicable. AviolationofthismatterisaclassBmisdemeanor.
IftheChildren'sDivisionhasareasonablebasistobelievethata
personhastransferredorwilltransfercustodyofachildin
violationoftheprovisionsinthisbill,theChildren'sDivision
mayconductahomevisitasprovidedbylawandtakeappropriate
actiontoprotectthewelfareofthechild.Lawenforcement
agenciesmayalsoinvestigateapossibleviolationofthe
provisionsinthisbill.
IftheChildren'sDivisionconductsahomevisitforachild
adoptedorplacedthroughaninter-countryadoption,theChildren's
Divisionsmust:
(1)Prepareareportonthewelfareandplanforpermanent
placementofthechild;and
(2)ProvideacopytotheUnitedStatesDepartmentofState.
Apersonmaynotsolicitoradvertisetofindapersonorchildin
whichtoviolatetheprovisionsinthisbillnortoactasan
intermediaryinviolationoftheprovisionsinthisbill.A
violationofthismatterisasclassBmisdemeanor.
Withinareasonabletimebeforeachild-placingagencyplacesa
childforadoptionwithaprospectiveadoptiveparent,theagency
mustprovideorhaveprovidedtotheprospectiveadoptiveparent
generaladoptioninformation,whichshouldaddresstheinformation
asdescribedinthebill,aswellasinformationspecifictothe
childthatisknowntoorreasonablyobtainablebytheagencyand
materialtotheprospectiveadoptiveparent’sinformeddecisionto
adoptthechild,whichmustincludeinformationasspecifiedinthe
bill.Also,achild-placingagencymustprovideorhaveprovided
totheprospectiveadoptiveparentguidanceandinstruction
specifictothechildtohelppreparetheparenttorespond
effectivelytoneedsofthechild,whichmustaddressissuesas
describedinthebill.Ifnewinformationisdiscoveredbythe
child-placingagencyatanypointintheadoptionprocess,itisto
providethatinformationtotheprospectiveparent.
Uponrequestfromthechildortheadoptiveparent,thechild-
placingagencyortheChildren'sDivisionmustprovideinformation
abouthowtoobtainfinancialassistanceorsupportservices:
(1)Toassistthechildorparenttorespondeffectivelyto
adjustment,behavioralhealth,andotherchallenges;and (2)Tohelppreservetheplacementoradoption.
TheChildren'sDivisionandlawenforcementcaninitiate
proceedingstodeterminewhetherachild-placingagencyhasfailed
tocomplywiththeprovisionsinthebill,whichcanresultin
eitherlawenforcementfilingforinjunctiverelieforinitiating
anadministrative proceeding,orChildren'sDivisionsuspendingor
revokingtheagency'slicense.
TheprovisionsinthisbilldonotapplytocustodyofanIndian
child,asdefinedinSection4(4)oftheIndianChildWelfareAct
of1978,25U.S.C.Section1903(4),asamended,totheextent
custodyisgovernedbytheIndianChildWelfareActof1978,25
U.S.C.Sections1901through1963,asamended.
ThisbillsimilartoHB1660(2024).