Relating to child placements, and making an appropriation

This bill relates to child placements.102(1)(a) (transfer of legal custody of child and placement). If a child was placed with a licensed foster parent for at least nine months immediately preceding the dispositional hearing, the bill prohibits the court from placing the child with a different individual unless the court makes a specific finding that placement with the different individual is in the child’s best interests, and the court provides reasons for the finding.84 (transfer of custody —— notice to adult relatives) requires HHS, juvenile court services, or a private agency to exercise due diligence to identify and provide notice to certain adult relatives of a child if the child’s custody is transferred from the child’s parents. The bill appropriates $275,000 to HHS for FY 2025-2026 for the purpose of adding five HHS employees to perform CPS duties. HHS must assign each employee employed through the appropriation to a separate CPS service area.84.