Termination of the parent and child relationship: severe sexual abuse.

Existing law specifies the circumstances under which a proceeding may be brought to have a child under 18 years of age declared free from the custody and control of either or both parents. These circumstances include, among others, the abandonment of the child by a parent and the neglectful or cruel treatment of the child by a parent. This bill would establish that a finding that a parent committed severe sexual abuse against the child is prima facie evidence that the parent has neglected or cruelly treated the child for the purposes of terminating parental rights under these procedures.