Committee OKs bill letting Alabama keep emergency custody of out-of-state children when other states delay

The House Judiciary Committee voted to give a favorable report to a bill that would allow Alabama to retain temporary emergency jurisdiction over children who arrive from other states and enter DHR custody if the child’s home state does not timely assert jurisdiction. The measure is intended to remove gaps that can delay services for children taken into emergency protective custody.

The bill’s sponsor told the committee the change is aimed at preventing delays that interfere with DHR’s ability to continue care and services when another state does not promptly exercise jurisdiction. The sponsor said the provision would let Alabama retain jurisdiction so “our DHR can continue to work with that child.”

No opposition speakers raised constitutional or procedural objections during the committee discussion. A voice vote approved the committee’s favorable report, advancing the measure for further consideration.

The committee’s action is procedural: it reported the bill favorably to the next stage; it does not itself change law. The text clarifies how temporary emergency jurisdiction operates when children cross state lines and the originating state delays asserting jurisdiction.

The committee did not record a roll-call vote; members approved the favorable report by voice vote.