Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4036-B is enacted to read:

§4036-B.__Removal of child from home

1.__Application.__The provisions of this section apply in any case in which the court orders, or has ordered, the removal of a child from home.

2.__Welfare of child.__Before a court may order removal of a child from home, the court must specifically find that remaining in the home is contrary to the welfare of the child.

3.__Reasonable efforts to prevent removal.__The department shall make reasonable efforts to prevent removal of the child from home, unless the court finds immediate risk of serious harm.__ In an order providing for removal of the child from home, or within 60 days of the date of removal of the child from home, the court shall make a finding:

A.__Whether or not the department has made reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of the child from home; and

B.__If the court finds that the department did not make reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of the child from home, whether or not there is an immediate risk of serious harm.

4.__Reasonable efforts to reunify.__The department shall make reasonable efforts to rehabilitate and reunify the family as provided in section 4041, subsection 1-A unless the court has ordered that the department need not commence or may cease reunification pursuant to section 4041, subsection 2.__In the jeopardy order pursuant to section 4035 and in each judicial review order pursuant to section 4038, the court shall make a finding whether or not the department has made reasonable efforts to rehabilitate and reunify the family.

5.__Reasonable efforts to finalize permanency plan.__The department shall make reasonable efforts to finalize the permanency plan.__In each order determining a permanency plan pursuant to section 4038, subsection 7-A, the court shall make a finding whether or not the department has made reasonable efforts to finalize the permanency plan.

6.__Requirements for findings.__A court order making any finding required by this section must:

A.__ Be in writing;