Companion to HB 1709. Establishes that the responsible social services agency shall make diligent efforts to identify and locate both parents of any child who is the subject of child welfare proceedings, as well as conduct a relative search to identify and provide notice to adult relatives. Diligent efforts include asking the custodial or known parent to identify any nonresident parent of the child and provide information that can be used to verify the nonresident parent's identity. Efforts also must be made to place siblings removed from their home in the same home for foster care, adoption, or transfer permanent legal and physical custody to a relative.
Sponsored by Senator Torres
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