Sec. 17a-10b. Commissioner to make reasonable effort to identify and notify relatives when child removed from custody of parent.

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 17a-28, if the Commissioner of Children and Families removes a child from the custody of a parent, the commissioner shall make a reasonable effort to identify and provide notice, not later than thirty days after the child is removed from the home, to the following relatives: (1) Each grandparent of the child, (2) each parent of any sibling of the child, provided such parent has legal custody of such sibling, and (3) any other adult relative of the child by blood or marriage. For purposes of this subsection, “sibling” includes a stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister and any individual who would have been considered a sibling of the child under state law except for a termination or other disruption of parental rights, including, but not limited to, the death of a parent.

(b) The notice provided pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall include: (1) A statement that the child has been removed from the custody of a parent; (2) a summary of the relative's rights under federal and state law to participate in the care and placement of the child, including any options that may be deemed waived through failure to respond to such notice; (3) a description of the requirements to become licensed or approved as a foster family home and the additional services and supports that are available for a child placed in such home; and (4) a description of how the caregiver of the child may subsequently enter into an agreement with the department to receive subsidies for the provision of foster care.

(P.A. 06-37, S. 1; P.A. 15-199, S. 11; P.A. 16-28, S. 12.)

History: P.A. 15-199 designated existing provisions re commissioner's removal of child from parent's custody as Subsec. (a) and amended same to replace “use best efforts” with “make a reasonable effort” and replace provisions re notice to grandparents with provisions re notice to relatives and added Subsec. (b) re requirements of notice, effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 16-28 amended Subsec. (b)(2) by making a technical change, effective May 17, 2016.