SB80 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Andrew JonesSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Juvenile dependency, priorities for existing caregivers and foster parents when placing children adjudicated dependent into permanent living arrangements, Sec. 12-15-314 am'd.

Description

Existing law requires juvenile courts and the Department of Human Resources to abide by certain requirements for placement and treatment of children in juvenile dependency cases.

This bill would require the Department of Human Resources to conduct a diligent search when seeking a relative or other individual to be a caregiver for a child determined to be dependent by a juvenile court. A diligent search pursuant to this bill would include interviews with both the child and his or her relatives, as well as records searches and other targeted inquiries during court hearings pertaining to criminal history, financial status, employment status, and residential status.

This bill would also require a juvenile court to find that in a situation where a child determined to be dependent has resided with a caregiver for at least 12 months prior to the determination of dependency, and where removal of the child from the home environment would be detrimental to the child's emotional well-being, continuation of the child's placement with his or her current caregiver or caregivers is in the child's best interests, and to make an order granting permanent custody to the caregiver or caregivers.

Show more Show less

Subjects

Juveniles