HCS HB 154 -- PLACEMENT OF GRANDCHILDREN

SPONSOR:  Nance (Ruestman)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Senior Citizen Advocacy by a vote of 12 to 0.

When an emergency placement of a child is deemed necessary, this
substitute requires the Children's Division within the Department
of Social Services to make documented diligent efforts to locate,
contact, and place the child with a grandparent unless the
division determines that the placement is not in the best
interest of the child.  The division must have documented just
cause for the non-placement with a grandparent.  Prior to
contacting the grandparent, the division must care for any
physical health needs of the child; and the grandparent must
comply with the emergency background check requirements.  If
contact with a grandparent cannot be made within three hours of
the division determining an emergency placement is necessary, the
child may be placed in a foster home; and during that three-hour
period, the child can be placed in foster care.  The provisions
of the substitute are not to interfere with the laws relating to
parental rights or judicial authority.

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.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2010, FY 2011, and
FY 2012.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that it is important that the
Children's Division make a diligent effort to contact a
grandparent when a child is in an emergency situation.  A
grandparent will not be required to have the necessary training
for placing a child with them in an emergency.  The intent is to
prevent a child from becoming a ward of the state and instead be
placed with a member of his or her immediate family which reduces
the stress level of all parties involved during an emergency
situation.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Ruestman and Emery;
Patrick and Jeanne Scholes; Missouri Family Network; Missouri
Eagle Forum; and Jean Campbell.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:24 am