2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Senate BILL 727

January 29, 2020 - Introduced by Senators Stroebel, Olsen, Jacque, Darling and Cowles, cosponsored by Representatives Dittrich, Plumer, Ballweg, Felzkowski, James, Kerkman, Kulp, Magnafici, Milroy, Murphy, Mursau, Ramthun, Tusler, Thiesfeldt, Tranel, Born, VanderMeer, Tittl, Edming and Snyder. Referred to Committee on Insurance, Financial Services, Government Oversight and Courts.

SB727,2,2 An Act to amend 48.195 (2) (d) 6., 48.235 (4) (a) 3., 48.235 (4m) (a) 3., 48.29 (1), 48.29 (3), 48.30 (2), 48.31 (1), 48.31 (2), 48.31 (4), 48.368 (1), 48.38 (5) (c) 6. b., 48.40 (1r), 48.415 (1) (a) 1., 48.415 (3) (a), 48.415 (5) (intro.), 48.415 (10) (a), 48.415 (10) (b), 48.417 (1) (intro.), 48.417 (1) (a), 48.417 (1) (b), 48.417 (1) (c), 48.417 (1) (d), 48.417 (2) (intro.), 48.417 (3), 48.417 (4), 48.42 (1) (intro.), 48.42 (1g) (a) (intro.), 48.42 (1g) (b), 48.42 (1g) (c), 48.42 (1m) (a), 48.42 (1m) (b), 48.42 (1m) (c), 48.42 (2) (intro.), 48.42 (2) (bm) (intro.), 48.42 (2g) (a), 48.42 (2g) (ag), 48.42 (2m), 48.42 (4) (title), 48.42 (4) (a), 48.42 (4) (b) 3., 48.42 (4) (b) 4. (intro.), 48.422 (title), 48.422 (1), 48.422 (2), 48.422 (3), 48.422 (4), 48.422 (6) (b), 48.422 (7) (intro.), 48.422 (7) (a), 48.422 (7) (bm), 48.422 (7) (br), 48.422 (8), 48.422 (9) (a), 48.423 (2) (intro.), 48.424 (1) (intro.), 48.424 (4) (intro.), 48.424 (4) (b), 48.425 (1) (am) 2., 48.425 (1) (cm), 48.425 (1m), 48.425 (3), 48.427 (2), 48.43 (1) (intro.), 48.46 (2), 48.46 (3), 48.83 (1), 48.835 (3) (title), 48.835 (3) (a), 48.837 (3), 48.837 (4) (e), 48.837 (5), 48.837 (6) (a), 48.837 (6) (b), 48.837 (6) (br) and 48.837 (6) (d); and to create 48.23 (2) (bm), 48.29 (1d) and 48.42 (1d) of the statutes; relating to: a motion to terminate parental rights.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill allows a petition to terminate parental rights (TPR) to be filed in a proceeding in which it is alleged that a child is in need of protection or services (CHIPS).

Under current law, a TPR proceeding is initiated by filing a petition with the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under the Children's Code (juvenile court). A TPR petition initiates a new proceeding that is unrelated to any other ongoing proceedings concerning the child in the juvenile court. Under this bill, a termination of parental rights may be initiated by filing a motion in an ongoing CHIPS proceeding for the same child.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB727,1 Section 1. 48.195 (2) (d) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB727,2,9 48.195 (2) (d) 6. A court conducting proceedings under s. 48.21, proceedings relating to a petition under s. 48.13 (2m) or 48.42 (1) or a motion under s. 48.42 (1d), or dispositional proceedings under subch. VI or VIII relating to the child, the county corporation counsel, district attorney, or agency legal counsel representing the interests of the public in those proceedings, or the guardian ad litem representing the interests of the child in those proceedings.

SB727,2 Section 2 . 48.23 (2) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

SB727,2,15 48.23 (2) (bm) If a motion to terminate parental rights is filed under s. 48.42 (1d) in a proceeding involving a child alleged to be in need of protection or services under s. 48.13, any parent who appears before the court shall be represented by counsel as provided under par. (b), beginning with the filing of the motion under s. 48.42 (1d).

SB727,3 Section 3. 48.235 (4) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB727,3,3 48.235 (4) (a) 3. Petition or file a motion for termination of parental rights or any other matter specified under s. 48.14.

SB727,4 Section 4. 48.235 (4m) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB727,3,6 48.235 (4m) (a) 3. Petition or file a motion for termination of parental rights or any other matter specified under s. 48.14 after the child is born.

SB727,5 Section 5 . 48.29 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB727,3,17 48.29 (1) The Except as provided under sub. (1d), the child, the child's parent, guardian or legal custodian, the expectant mother, or the unborn child's guardian ad litem, either before or during the plea hearing, may file a written request with the clerk of the court or other person acting as the clerk for a substitution of the judge assigned to the proceeding. Upon filing the written request, the filing party shall immediately mail or deliver a copy of the request to the judge named in the request. When any person has the right to request a substitution of judge, that person's counsel or guardian ad litem may file the request. Not more than one such written request may be filed in any one proceeding, nor may any single request name more than one judge. This section does not apply to proceedings under s. 48.21 or 48.213.

SB727,6 Section 6 . 48.29 (1d) of the statutes is created to read: