Bill > H783

This bill aims to improve permanency and placement stability for children in the child welfare system. It has several key provisions: 1. Gives children aged 7 or older a meaningful opportunity to participate in the development of their case plan and express their placement preferences, and requires the Department to investigate these preferences before making placement decisions. Parents are also given a similar opportunity. 2. Clarifies the court's responsibility to determine whether the Department has made "reasonable efforts" to prevent removal of a child from the home or to return the child safely to their parent or guardian, with some exceptions where such efforts are not required. 3. Requires a regional clinical review when a child experiences more than 2 placements in a single foster care episode, to assess the effects on the child and provide additional services. 4. Allows a child whose parents' rights have been terminated to file a motion, after at least 2 years, to reinstate those rights if certain conditions are met, such as the child being at least 12 years old and adoption no longer being the permanency plan.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services, Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H783