Bill > S488

This bill makes several key changes to how North Carolina courts handle juvenile placement and dispositional decisions, while also temporarily restricting IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts) fund expenditures. In the juvenile court section, the bill requires judges to make more explicit written findings of fact when determining out-of-home placements, specifically mandating that courts first determine if a relative can provide proper care for a child, and if not, consider alternative placements like former foster parents or non-relative kin. The bill also strengthens language around evaluating placement options, emphasizing that the juvenile's health and safety are the paramount concerns. The bill requires courts to specifically document whether reasonable efforts were made to prevent placement and to determine whether remaining in the child's community of residence is in the juvenile's best interest. In a separate provision, the bill restricts the North Carolina State Bar's IOLTA funds, preventing the use of interest earned on lawyer trust accounts for grants or anything other than administrative costs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The juvenile court provisions will take effect on October 1, 2025, and apply to petitions filed on or after that date, while the IOLTA restrictions become effective immediately upon the bill becoming law.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S488