Senate Bill 2387

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE BE NOTIFIED BY THE COURT WITHIN SEVEN WORKING DAYS WHEN A PERMANENCY PLAN CHANGES TO TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS OR AN ADOPTION; TO PROVIDE FOR THE TIME PERIOD IN WHICH A PETITION FOR THE TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS SHALL BE HELD; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The appropriate court shall notify the Office of the Attorney General within seven (7) business days whenever a permanency plan changes to termination of parental rights or an adoption.

SECTION 2. Once the petition for termination of parental rights is filed with the court of competent jurisdiction, the court shall hold a hearing on the petition within one hundred twenty (120) calendar days of the date of the petition is filed. For purposes of this section, the one hundred twenty (120) calendar day time period will commence when perfected service is made on the parents.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect immediately upon passage.