An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in juvenile matters, providing for special immigrant juvenile status predicate orders.

HB 2216 creates new court procedures in Pennsylvania for juvenile courts to issue "predicate orders" required for immigrant youth to apply for federal Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. It directly affects immigrant youth under 21 who have experienced abuse, abandonment, or neglect and need these court orders to seek U.S. immigration protections. Key provisions include establishing a lower burden of proof (preponderance of evidence), presuming it is not in the juvenile’s best interest to return to their home country, and allowing courts to issue orders without parental notice if abandonment occurred for six months. The bill adds specific court procedures to Pennsylvania’s juvenile law to streamline this process, ensuring youth can access federal immigration pathways.