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HCS/HB 154 - This act provides that when an emergency placement of a child is deemed necessary, the Children's Division within the Department of Social Services must immediately begin diligent efforts to locate, contact, and place the child with a grandparent of the child. Diligent efforts are defined in the act, and such efforts shall be made to contact the grandparent within three hours from the time the emergency placement is deemed necessary. During such three-hour period, the child may be placed in an emergency placement. If a grandparent cannot be located within the three-hour period, the child may be temporarily placed in emergency placement. However, after such placement was made the division shall still make diligent efforts to contact the grandparent and place the child with a grandparent or another relative, with first consideration given to a grandparent. Prior to any emergency placement of the child the division shall assure that the child's physical needs are met. Placement shall not be made with the grandparent when the division determines that the placement would not be in the best interests of the child. The placement with a grandparent shall also be subject to an emergency placement background check. The division shall document the reason why placing the child with a grandparent is deemed to not be in the interest of the child. When a court determines that a child must be placed in a foster home, the division must make diligent efforts to locate the grandparents of the child and determine if they wish to be considered for placement of the child. Nothing in the act shall be construed to interfere with or supercede laws related to parental rights or judicial authority. ADRIANE CROUSE
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