Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §18-C is enacted to read:

§18-C.__Information for parents in child protective cases

1.__Program.__By January 1, 2003, the State Court Administrator, in consultation with appropriate interested parties, shall establish a program to provide information about child protection laws and procedures to parents whose children are the subject of child protective investigations and cases under Title 22, chapter 1071.__The providing of the information under this program does not constitute representation of parents.__ Parents may seek and receive information regardless of whether they are represented by legal counsel.__The information must be provided free of charge to parents.

2.__Provider.__The State Court Administrator shall enter into a contract with one or more private providers, not associated with the Department of Human Services, to operate the program under subsection 1.

3.__Report.__The State Court Administrator shall report annually to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters, starting February 1, 2003, on the program required by this section.

4.__No new rights or obligations.__This section does not create new rights or obligations concerning the provision of legal advice or representation of parents.__Failure to provide information under this section does not create a cause of action or have any effect on a child protective proceeding.

Sec. 2. 15 MRSA §3203-A, sub-§5, ¶D is enacted to read:

D.__When a court orders detention or a conditional release that authorizes, even temporarily, the juvenile's removal from the juvenile's home, the court shall determine whether reasonable efforts have been made to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the juvenile from the juvenile's home or that no reasonable efforts are necessary because of the existence of an aggravating factor as defined in Title 22, section 4002, subsection 1-B, and whether continuation in the juvenile's home would be contrary to the welfare of the juvenile.__This determination does not affect whether the court orders detention or a conditional release, which continues to be governed by the other provisions of this section.