CHAPTER 526

S.P. 627 - L.D. 1682

An Act To Support Sibling Rights in Child Welfare Custody

Matters

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4036, sub-§1, ¶F-2 is enacted to read:

F-2.__Visitation between the child and a sibling pursuant to section 4068;

Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §4068 is enacted to read:

§4068.__Sibling visitation

1.__Visitation.__If the court determines that it is reasonable, practicable and in the best interests of the children involved, the court shall order the custodian of the child who is the subject of the child protection proceeding and any party who is the custodian of a sibling of the child to make the children available for visitation with each other.__The court may order a schedule and conditions pursuant to which the visits are to occur.

2.__Siblings separated through adoption.__The department shall make reasonable efforts to establish agreements with prospective adoptive parents that provide for reasonable contact between an adoptive child and the child's siblings when the department believes that the contact will be in the children's best interests.