SB 338 Ohio Senate · 135th Legislature (2023-2024)

Expand eligibility for grandparent POA or caretaker affidavit

SB 338 expands the eligibility for grandparents and other relatives to serve as legal caretakers for children living with them without formal custody orders. The bill defines a "caretaker" broadly to include various blood relatives, stepparents, and non-relative adults who are caring for a child in place of the parents. It allows parents, guardians, or custodians to grant these caretakers specific rights, such as enrolling the child in school and consenting to medical treatment, through a standardized power of attorney form. This document becomes valid only when the parent is unable to care for the child due to circumstances like illness, incarceration, homelessness, or substance abuse treatment. The legislation clarifies that this arrangement does not grant legal custody or affect the parents' future rights to the child.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2024
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Nov 26, 2024 Last action Dec 4, 2024
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Full legislative history

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Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Dec 4, 2024
Committee
Refer to Committee
upper
Nov 26, 2024
Introduced
Introduced
upper
2 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors