MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
The Missouri House adopted an amendment to a bill that holds state courts accountable for granting timely hearings in foster care cases.
Matt Johnson is at the Capitol.
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Rep. Mark Wright proposed the amendment to the senate bill that would adopt various provisions to the state's foster care requirements.
He says his amendment will hold state courts more accountable for requiring parents whose children are taken from their homes to be granted a hearing within seventy two hours.
"You've gotta have this protective court hearing...when a child is taken from your home, that's a traumatic situation and you wanna get in front of a judge as soon as possible to determine whether it was the right thing to do."
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One democratic opponent, Vicki Walker, disagrees with the measure saying it is unfair to the children who would have to go back into unwanted care if not granted a hearing.
From the state Capitol, I'm Matt Johnson.
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Lawmakers adopted an amendment that holds state courts accountable for granting timely hearings in foster care cases.
Matt Johnson is at the Captiol.
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OutCue: SOC
Rep. Mark Wright proposed the amendment that sparked debate on the house floor.
Democratic Rep. Vicki Walker disagrees with Wright's proposal.
"Think of the kids...If you really want to think of the kids, this amendment isn't thinking of the kids...this amendment is thinking of the parents."
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She says she's afraid kids who are taken from their homes will be forced back into unsafe situations if they are not granted a hearing within the required seventy two hours.
From the state Capitol, I'm Matt Johnson.
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State Lawmakers approved an amendment that holds courts more accountable for granting timely foster care hearings.
Matt Johnson is at the Capitol.
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OutCue: SOC
The bill sparked hefty debate in the Missouri house today.
Current state law requires the state courts to grant hearings within seventy two hours in foster care cases.
But if the court doesn't grant these hearings, they are not held accountable.
Rep. Mark Wright hopes to change that.
Rep. Vicki Walker doesn't agree with his amendment.
"If something happens to that child, I can guarantee you Rep. Wright will be the first one standing up and going...ooh, ooh...It's not our fault, it's not our fault."
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She worries about the children being put back into unsafe situations and says Wright's amendment doesn't put the child first.
Wright says he doesn't see any basis for opponents argument.
From the state Capitol, I'm Matt Johnson.