This bill amends existing laws regarding child placements by enhancing the responsibilities of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) when a child is removed from parental custody. It mandates that HHS employ dedicated staff at its central office specifically to fulfill the due diligence requirements of identifying and notifying certain relatives of the child, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and adult siblings, within thirty days of the custody removal. This requirement is subject to exceptions in cases involving family or domestic violence.

Additionally, the bill modifies the court's authority in child custody decisions following a dispositional hearing. It stipulates that if a child has been placed with a licensed foster parent for at least nine months prior to the hearing, the court cannot order a change in placement without a specific finding that such a change is in the child's best interests, along with providing reasons for this determination. This aims to ensure that the stability of the child's current placement is prioritized unless there are compelling reasons to do otherwise.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 232.84, 232.102