§ 26-7a-82

26-7A-82. Adjudicatory hearing following advisory hearing--Support of evidence.Following an advisory hearing on a petition, the court shall conduct an adjudicatory hearing. The court shall consider whether the allegations of the petition are supported by clear and convincing evidence concerning an alleged abused or neglected child or whether the allegations of the petition are supported by evidence beyond a reasonable doubt concerning an alleged child in need of supervision or an alleged delinquent child. In cases concerning abused or neglected children, evidence that child abuse has occurred is prima facie evidence that the child is an abused or neglected child regardless of allegations contained in the petition, and such evidence is sufficient to support an adjudication of the child as an abused or neglected child. Source: SL 1991, ch 217, §71B.