§4038-C.__Permanency guardian

As part of the permanency plan, the District Court may appoint a person or persons as guardian of a minor, to be known as a permanency guardian.__"Permanency guardian," when used in this section and in section 4038-D, means the person or persons appointed as the permanency guardian.

1.__Criteria.__The District Court may appoint a person to be a permanency guardian only if the court finds that the prospective permanency guardian:

A.__Has the ability to provide a safe home for the child;

B.__Has a close emotional bond with the child and that the child has a close emotional bond with the prospective permanency guardian;

C.__Is willing and able to make an informed, long-term commitment to the child; and

D.__Has the skills to care for the child and to obtain needed information about and assistance with any special needs of the child.

2.__Powers and duties of permanency guardian.__A permanency guardian has all of the powers and duties of a guardian of a minor pursuant to Title 18-A, section 5-209.

3.__Parental and relative contact.__A parent, grandparent or sibling of a child subject to a permanency guardianship or to a proceeding to establish a permanency guardianship may petition the court to determine rights of contact as provided in subsection 6.__If the District Court determines that it is in the best interest of the child, it may order that the parent, grandparent or sibling of the child has a reasonable right of contact with the child and may specify the type, frequency, duration and conditions of that contact.

4.__Child support.__The parents shall pay the permanency guardian child support.__Title 19-A, section 1652 and Title 19-A, chapter 63 govern the award of child support to the permanency guardian.__The child support obligation may be enforced pursuant to Title 19-A, chapter 65 or 67.