Termination of parental rights; requiring separate court to conduct certain bench trials. Effective date.

SB 1821 requires that when a parent waives a jury trial in a parental rights termination case, the subsequent bench trial must be held in a separate court from the initial hearing. It sets strict timelines: bench trials must begin within 90 days of a scheduling order, and jury trials must start within six months, with exceptions only for exceptional circumstances or party agreements. This bill directly affects parents, state child welfare agencies, and children involved in termination proceedings by changing court procedures for these sensitive cases. The law aims to streamline processes while ensuring procedural fairness in parental rights decisions.