An Act To Consolidate Administration of Kinship Care and Relative Placement Issues within the Department of Health and Human Services
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4010-D is enacted to read:
§ 4010-D. Kinship care and relative placement administration
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Kinship care" means the placement of a child with a relative on a temporary or permanent basis. The placement may or may not involve the participation of the department.
B. "Relative placement" means the use of a relative as a temporary placement for a child in the custody of the department or a comparable department in another state while the child and the child's parents are engaged in a rehabilitation and reunification process under subchapter 5.
2. Administrator. The commissioner shall appoint one person to administer all issues related to kinship care and relative placement.
summary
This bill requires the Commissioner of Health and Human Services to appoint one person to administer all issues related to the placement of a child with a relative.