An Act To Restore the Laws Governing the Reunification of Parents and Children
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4003, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2017, c. 470, §1, is further amended to read:
3. Rehabilitation and reunification as a priority. Require that reasonable efforts be made to rehabilitate and reunify families Give family rehabilitation and reunification priority as a means for protecting the welfare of children, but prevent needless delay for permanent plans for children when rehabilitation and reunification is not possible;
summary
Recently enacted law eliminated language that established as a priority under the Child and Family Services and Child Protection Act family rehabilitation and reunification. This bill restores family rehabilitation and reunification as a priority under the laws governing child protective services.