HCS HB 154 -- PLACEMENT OF GRANDCHILDREN (Ruestman)

COMMITTEE OF ORIGIN:  Committee on Senior Citizen Advocacy

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.

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