Pennsylvania HB 133: An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in proceedings prior to petition to adopt, further providing for relinquishment to adult intending to adopt child, for alternative procedure for relinquishment and for petition for involuntary termination; and providing for reinstatement of parental rights.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 2320, 3480 PRINTER'S NO. 3644
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 133
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY KRAJEWSKI, DELOZIER, WAXMAN, HILL-EVANS, WEBSTER,
McNEILL, SAMUELSON, RIVERA, SANCHEZ, FIEDLER, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
HOWARD, HOHENSTEIN, GREEN AND KHAN, SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
JUNE 17, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in proceedings prior to petition to
adopt, further providing for relinquishment to adult
intending to adopt child, for alternative procedure for
relinquishment and for petition for involuntary termination;
and providing for reinstatement of parental rights.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 2502(a) of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
§ 2502. Relinquishment to adult intending to adopt child.
(a) Petition.--When any child under the age of 18 years has
been for a minimum period of three days in the exclusive care of
an adult or adults who have filed a report of intention to adopt
required by section 2531 (relating to report of intention to
adopt), or when a petition for reinstatement of parental rights
has been filed under Chapter 30 (relating to reinstatement of
parental rights), the parent or parents of the child may
petition the court for permission to relinquish forever all
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parental rights to their child.
* * *
Section 2. Section 2504 of Title 23 is amended by adding a
subsection to read:
§ 2504. Alternative procedure for relinquishment.
* * *
(a.1) Petition to confirm consent to reinstatement of
parental rights.--If the parent or parents of the child have
executed consents to reinstatement of parental rights under
Chapter 30 (relating to reinstatement of parental rights), upon
petition by a party under section 3001(a) (relating to
petition), the court shall hold a hearing for the purpose of
confirming a consent to reinstatement of parental rights. The
original consent or consents shall be attached to the petition.
* * *
Section 3. Section 2512(b)(3) of Title 23 is amended and
subsection (a) is amended by adding a paragraph to read:
§ 2512. Petition for involuntary termination.
(a) Who may file.--A petition to terminate parental rights
with respect to a child under the age of 18 years may be filed
by any of the following:
* * *
(5) A party under section 3001(a) (relating to petition)
or an attorney representing the party.
(b) Contents.--The following apply:
* * *
(3) If the petitioner is a parent and section 2514
(relating to special provisions when child conceived as a
result of rape or incest) applies, or if the petitioner is an
agency, or if the petitioner is a party under section
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3001(a), the petitioner shall not be required to aver that an
adoption is presently contemplated nor that a person with a
present intention to adopt exists.
* * *
Section 4. Title 23 is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 30
REINSTATEMENT OF PARENTAL RIGHTS
Sec.
3000. VENUE.
3001. Petition.
3002. Representation.
3003. Hearing.
3004. Orders.
§ 3000. VENUE.
PROCEEDINGS FOR REINSTATEMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURT OF
THE COUNTY:
(1) WHERE THE CHILD RESIDES.
(2) IN WHICH IS LOCATED AN OFFICE OF AN AGENCY HAVING
CUSTODY OR IN THE COUNTY WHERE THE AGENCY HAVING PLACED THE
CHILD IS LOCATED.
(3) WITH THE LEAVE OF COURT IN WHICH THE CHILD FORMERLY
RESIDED.
§ 3001. Petition.
(a) Persons who may file.--The following persons may file a
petition with the court under this chapter to reinstate the
parental rights of a former parent whose parental rights were
terminated by the agency under Subchapter A of Chapter 25
(relating to voluntary relinquishment) or Subchapter B of
Chapter 25 (relating to involuntary termination) , unless the
former parent's parental rights were previously involuntarily
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terminated under section 2511(a)(7), (9), (10) or (11) (relating
to grounds for involuntary termination) :
(1) the agency;
(2) if the child is at least 14 years of age, the child,
former child or an attorney representing the child who is the
subject of the petition; or
(3) the former parent whose parental rights were
voluntarily relinquished or involuntarily terminated, or an
attorney representing the former parent .
(b) Requirements.--A petition for reinstatement of parental
rights may be filed under this chapter only if:
(1) the termination of parental rights resulted from a
petition filed by the agency;
(2) the order terminating parental rights is final ; and
(3) at least 15 months have elapsed since entry of the
order terminating parental rights, or the child is at least
17 years of age, and AT LEAST one of the