S.719

Clarifies rights of parents with disabilities in child protective proceedings.

This bill would clarify certain rights of parents with disabilities in child protective proceedings. It provides that a parent’s or guardian’s disability could not be considered a negative factor in a determination concerning the child in certain child protection proceedings, absent a specific showing by clear and convincing evidence that there is a nexus between the parent’s or guardian’s disability and alleged harm to the child, and that such alleged harm cannot be prevented or alleviated by accommodations for the disability, including adaptive parenting equipment or supportive parenting.