SB 141

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.