This bill amends existing juvenile statutes to ensure compliance with federal requirements regarding placements in qualified residential treatment programs. It mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services conduct a qualified assessment of a child within 30 days of placement, and that the court reviews this assessment and the placement decision within 60 days. The bill also introduces a provision allowing litigation to continue in cases where an attorney has not yet been secured for a child, despite diligent efforts to do so.

Key changes in the bill include the replacement of the court's responsibility to order assessments with a requirement for the department to conduct them, as indicated by the insertions of "The department shall have" and "The court shall review." Additionally, a new subparagraph is added to the Child Protection Act, allowing litigation to proceed in the absence of an attorney, while prioritizing legal issues that do not conflict with the child's expressed interests. The bill also repeals a previous provision related to attorneys and guardians ad litem, reflecting a shift in how legal representation is managed in these cases. The effective dates for various sections of the bill are staggered, with some provisions taking effect in 2026 and others in 2027.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 169-B:19-d, 169-C:19-f, 169-D:9-d, 169-C:10
As Amended by the Senate: 169-B:19-d, 169-C:19-f, 169-D:9-d, 169-C:10
Version adopted by both bodies: 169-B:19-d, 169-C:19-f, 169-D:9-d, 169-C:10
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 169-B:19-d, 169-C:19-f, 169-D:9-d, 169-C:10
SB515 text: 169-B:19-d, 169-C:19-f, 169-D:9-d, 169-C:10