Modifying termination of parental rights requirements.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and its provisions were never enacted into law.

Expanding Reasons for Ending Parental Rights

The bill proposes to add new grounds for terminating parental rights when a child is conceived as a result of sexual assault, even if there was no conviction.

What This Bill Does

• Adds new grounds for terminating parental rights when a child is conceived as a result of sexual assault.

Who It Names or Affects

• Parents whose rights may be terminated due to the new grounds specified in the bill.
• Children conceived as a result of sexual assault who could have their parent's rights terminated under these new rules.

Terms To Know

Termination of parental rights

A legal process that ends a parent’s rights and responsibilities towards their child, making the child eligible for adoption by another family.

Clear and convincing evidence

Evidence that is more likely to be true than not, used in court cases to prove something beyond just a preponderance of the evidence but less than beyond a reasonable doubt.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill did not pass and was never introduced for consideration.
• It would have taken effect on July 1, 2020, if passed.

Current Bill Text

20LSO-0347
2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0347
Introduced
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0210

Modifying termination of parental rights requirements.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Blackburn, Clifford, Henderson, Miller, Newsome, Pelkey and Washut

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to termination of parental rights; expanding grounds for termination of parental rights; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 14
‑
2
‑
309(a)(ix)(A) is amended to read:

14
‑
2
‑
309.

Grounds for termination of parent
‑
child relationship; clear and convincing evidence.

(a)

The parent
‑
child legal relationship may be terminated if any one (1) or more of the following facts is established by clear and convincing evidence:

(ix)

The parent committed sexual assault and the child was conceived as a result of the sexual assault. For the purposes of this paragraph, the following shall apply:

(A)

A person committed sexual assault if the person was convicted of an offense under W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
302, 6
‑
2
‑
303, 6
‑
2
‑
314 through 6
‑
2
‑
316 or other similar law of another jurisdiction
or is found by clear and convincing evidence to have committed sexual assault regardless of whether or not the person was convicted of an offense
;

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2020
.

(END)

1
HB0210