| 1 | 1 | | BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7 |
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| 2 | 2 | | 2025 Page 1 of 2 |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | VT LEG #378723 v.1 |
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| 6 | 6 | | H.7 1 |
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| 7 | 7 | | Introduced by Representative LaLonde of South Burlington 2 |
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| 8 | 8 | | Referred to Committee on 3 |
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| 9 | 9 | | Date: 4 |
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| 10 | 10 | | Subject: Adoption; termination of parental rights 5 |
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| 11 | 11 | | Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to reinstate the 6 |
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| 12 | 12 | | ability of a court in an adoption proceeding to consider whether a person 7 |
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| 13 | 13 | | asserting parental rights has made reasonable and consistent payments to 8 |
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| 14 | 14 | | support the minor child when determining whether termination of parental 9 |
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| 15 | 15 | | rights is in the best interests of the child. 10 |
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| 16 | 16 | | An act relating to termination of parental rights in an adoption proceeding 11 |
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| 17 | 17 | | It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 12 |
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| 18 | 18 | | Sec. 1. 15A V.S.A. § 3-504 is amended to read: 13 |
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| 19 | 19 | | § 3-504. GROUNDS FOR TERMINATING RELATIONSHIP OF PARENT 14 |
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| 20 | 20 | | AND CHILD 15 |
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| 21 | 21 | | (a) If a respondent answers or appears at the hearing and asserts parental 16 |
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| 22 | 22 | | rights, the court shall proceed with the hearing expeditiously. If the court 17 |
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| 23 | 23 | | finds, upon clear and convincing evidence, that any one of the following 18 |
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| 24 | 24 | | grounds exists and that termination is in the best interests of the minor, the 19 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.7 |
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| 25 | 25 | | 2025 Page 2 of 2 |
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| 27 | 27 | | |
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| 28 | 28 | | VT LEG #378723 v.1 |
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| 29 | 29 | | court shall order the termination of any parental relationship of the respondent 1 |
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| 30 | 30 | | to the minor: 2 |
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| 31 | 31 | | * * * 3 |
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| 32 | 32 | | (2) In the case of a minor over six months of age at the time the petition 4 |
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| 33 | 33 | | is filed, the respondent did not exercise parental responsibility for a period of 5 |
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| 34 | 34 | | at least six months immediately preceding the filing of the petition. In making 6 |
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| 35 | 35 | | a determination under this subdivision, the court shall consider all relevant 7 |
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| 36 | 36 | | factors, which may include the respondent’s failure to: 8 |
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| 37 | 37 | | (A) make reasonable and consistent payments, in accordance with the 9 |
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| 38 | 38 | | respondent’s financial means, for the support of the minor, although legally 10 |
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| 39 | 39 | | obligated to do so; 11 |
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| 40 | 40 | | (B) regularly communicate or visit with the minor; or 12 |
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| 41 | 41 | | (C) during any time the minor was not in the physical custody of the 13 |
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| 42 | 42 | | other parent, manifest an ability and willingness to assume legal and physical 14 |
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| 43 | 43 | | custody of the minor. 15 |
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| 44 | 44 | | * * * 16 |
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| 45 | 45 | | Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE 17 |
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| 46 | 46 | | This act shall take effect on passage. 18 |
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