General Assembly Raised Bill No. 981
January Session, 2011 LCO No. 3376
*03376_______KID*
Referred to Committee on Select Committee on Children
Introduced by:
(KID)
General Assembly
Raised Bill No. 981
January Session, 2011
LCO No. 3376
*03376_______KID*
Referred to Committee on Select Committee on Children
Introduced by:
(KID)
AN ACT CONCERNING THE PLACEMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN IN CONGREGATE CARE FACILITIES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2011) (a) Except as provided for in subsection (b) of this section, the Commissioner of Children and Families shall not place a child under the age of six, or a sibling group that contains a child under the age of six, in a child care facility, as defined in section 17a-93 of the general statutes.
(b) The Commissioner of Children and Families may place a child under the age of six, or a sibling group containing a child under the age of six, in a child care facility, only if (1) a child care facility is designed for children and their parents, or (2) the health needs of the child under the age of six are so severe that the child's health needs can only be met in a child care facility. No child under the age of six, nor any sibling group containing a child under the age of six, may be placed in a child care facility pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection unless the commissioner, prior to such placement, certifies to the court that specific attempts were made to secure a family-based placement for such child or sibling group. If a child under the age of six, or sibling group containing a child under the age of six, is placed in a child care facility pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection and remains in such facility for more than thirty days, the commissioner shall petition the court for an emergency placement review hearing to be held not less than forty-five days after the date of initial placement. The purpose of such hearing shall be to review the efforts made by the commissioner to secure a family-based placement for the child or sibling group and to determine whether continued placement in the child care facility is warranted based on the child's health needs.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2011 New section
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
October 1, 2011
New section
Statement of Purpose:
To prohibit the Commissioner of Children and Families from placing children under the age of six, or sibling groups with a child under the age of six, in congregate care facilities unless necessary for health reasons.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]