HB 1285-S2 - DIGEST
(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 2ND SUBSTITUTE)

Requires the court to appoint an attorney for a child in a dependency proceeding within seventy-two hours of granting a petition to terminate the parent and child relationship.

Requires the state, if certain conditions are met, to pay one-half of the costs of legal services provided by the attorney.

Requires the office of civil legal aid to administer money appropriated by the legislature for legal services provided by the attorney.

Encourages counties to set caseloads as low as possible and account for the individual needs of the children in care.