SB2371 Summary

• Amends the Children and Family Services Act to prioritize sibling placement, requiring the Department to place children with siblings unless not in the child's best interest or otherwise impossible under Department rules.

• Requires the Department to make reasonable efforts to identify, locate, and notify adult grandparents and relatives when assuming custody of a child, with documentation required in the child's case file.

• Establishes criminal conviction restrictions on relative placements, prohibiting placement with relatives or household members with prior convictions for specified offenses including murder, sex crimes, kidnapping, child abuse, and similar crimes.

• Defines "fictive kin" as unrelated individuals with close personal or emotional ties to the child or family, or foster parents meeting specific criteria (at least one year placement, significant family-like relationship, identified as permanent connection).

• Requires fictive kin caregivers to apply for foster family home licensure within 6 months of placement but prohibits removal based on licensure failure; establishes Department rulemaking deadline of June 1, 2015 for fictive kin placement and licensure criteria.