Senate Bill 2906 Summary

• Clarifies that relative care is a legal placement option for abused and neglected children, allowing courts to place children with relatives as an alternative to traditional foster care.

• Exempts relatives seeking relative placement who do not receive foster parent payments from the requirement to complete foster parent training, though they may voluntarily participate.

• Grants courts discretion to waive foster parent training requirements when giving custody to a relative in neglect and abuse cases.

• Allows the Department of Child Protection Services to waive certain foster care regulations (such as separate bedroom requirements) when placing children in relatives' homes if in the child's best interest.

• Effective date: July 1, 2017; includes conforming changes to references of "Department of Human Services" to "Department of Child Protection Services" throughout affected code sections.