NC H612

Expands Guardianship Assistance Program (KinGAP) eligibility to children age 10 and older (lowered from previous threshold), allowing financial support for children exiting foster care into relative guardianship

Creates new conflict of interest procedures for child welfare cases, requiring transfer to another county when cases involve department employees, foster parents, county officials, or other specified relationships

Requires legal counsel review of all juvenile petitions filed by county departments of social services, with attorneys completing minimum 6 hours of child welfare law training before representing departments (effective April 1, 2026)

Allows judges to issue permanent no contact orders against defendants convicted of violent offenses (Class A-G felonies), expanding beyond sex offenses, and extends protection to victims' immediate family members

Mandates criminal background checks for all city and county job applicants offered positions requiring work with children in any capacity (effective October 1, 2025)