The notification of relatives when a child is removed from the custody of the child's parent and placement of a child with a parent of a sibling of the child who has custody of the sibling

What it does

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under the Children's Code and the Juvenile Justice Code, a child may be placed with a relative when the child is taken into temporary custody, as a disposition, or as a permanent placement. In addition, in a dispositional order for a child in need of protection or services (CHIPS) proceeding, if there is no less drastic alternative for a child than transferring custody from the parent, the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under the Children's Code (juvenile court) must consider transferring custody to a relative whenever possible. The agency preparing a permanency plan for a child must also include in the plan a statement as to the availability of a safe and appropriate placement with a fit and willing relative of the child and, if a decision is made not to place the child with an available relative, a statement as to why placement with the relative is not safe or appropriate. Finally, before the Department of Children and Families (DCF), a county department of human services or social services (county department), or a child welfare agency may place a child for adoption, that agency must consider the availability of an adoptive placement with a relative of the child who is identified in the permanency plan or otherwise known by that agency. This bill adds to the relatives with whom a child may be placed under these circumstances a parent of a sibling of the child who has legal custody of that sibling.

Under current law, when a child is removed from the custody of the child's parent, the juvenile court must order DCF, the county department, or the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the child under the custody order to attempt to locate certain adult relatives of the child and provide them with certain information related to the removal within 30 days after the removal. That information includes notice that the child has been removed from the custody of the child's parents and an explanation of the options that the adult relative has to participate in the care and placement of the child. This bill adds to the adult relatives to whom such notice must be provided a parent of a sibling of the child who has legal custody of that sibling.

Who's behind it

20 lawmakers are its authors⁠. 12 are Republicans and 8 are Democrats.

8 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.