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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 4, 2019 12:18 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Tim Briggs |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Guardianship Protection for Pennsylvania Families |
| In 2018, we updated guardianship laws for minors by allow certain family members to petition for temporary guardianship of a child whose parent is undergoing treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. This legislation was an important first step in protecting vulnerable children, but I believe we must do more to protect our children. Each year, some parents are detained, incarcerated, or deported, and authorities struggle to find temporary care for their children. While current law allows parents to declare in advance a standby guardian in circumstances such as incapacity or death of the parent, it does not expressly provide the ability to do so in long-term absence situations. My legislation would amend existing standby guardianship law to allow the “long term absence” of the parent to be permitted as a triggering event in the standby guardianship designation. This long term absence could include detainment, incarceration, or deportation. We need to do everything we can to ensure the stability of families. If a parent is facing incarceration, detention, or deportation, they should be able to plan for the well-being of their children, but not lose their parental rights forever. Please join me in protecting Pennsylvania families. Previous Co-Sponsors (HB1509 from 2017-2018): R. FREEMAN, E. PASHINSKI, T. CALTAGIRONE, T. DAVIS, V. BROWN, J. COX, S. KINSEY, D. COSTA, A. DeLUCA, J. ROEBUCK, W. THOMAS, and P. WARREN |