The bill amends several sections of the Revised Code to require public children services agencies to take immediate custody of children who cannot be released to a parent, guardian, or custodian. It mandates that law enforcement or court officers notify the public children services agency immediately when a child is taken into custody under specific conditions. If the child is taken into custody in a different county from their residence, the agency in that county must act as the temporary custodial agency and promptly notify the agency in the child's home county. The bill also clarifies the responsibilities of public children services agencies, emphasizing immediate action upon notification and outlining the circumstances under which a child may be taken into custody.

Additionally, the bill specifies conditions under which a court may determine that an agency is not required to make reasonable efforts to prevent a child's removal from their home, such as serious offenses by a parent against the child or their siblings, repeated withholding of necessary care, or abandonment. It requires courts to issue written findings of fact to support their custody determinations. The bill also introduces new requirements for agencies involved in child placement, including the provision of comprehensive reports to foster caregivers or prospective adoptive parents regarding the child's history and psychological evaluations. It streamlines the legal framework by repealing obsolete sections of the Revised Code.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 2151.27, 2151.31, 2151.419, 2152.72, 3109.58, 3109.68