HB 19-1219 Summary

• Courts must conduct permanency planning hearings within 90 days after initial disposition and every 6 months thereafter to ensure children in out-of-home care achieve stable, permanent homes as quickly as possible.

• Expands permanency goal options to include return home, adoption (relative or non-relative), legal guardianship, allocation of parental responsibilities, and "other planned permanent living arrangements" limited to youth 16+ with complex conditions or unaccompanied refugee minors.

• Requires county departments to document compelling reasons and intensive efforts when pursuing goals other than return home, adoption, legal guardianship, or placement with relatives, including use of social media and search technology to locate biological family.

• Establishes periodic review hearings every 6 months to determine child safety, reasonable efforts toward permanency, placement appropriateness, case plan compliance, and timeframes for return home or permanent placement.

• Requires courts to consult with children in developmentally appropriate manner, hold all hearings in person, provide notice to all parties, and ensure children 18+ leaving foster care receive birth certificate, Social Security card, health insurance information, medical records, ID, and proof of foster care status.