PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
Amend the amendment in the first paragraph after the title in the first line (page 1, line 11 in amendment) by striking out the following: "5." and inserting the following: '5 and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4003, sub-§3-A, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 374, §1, is amended to read:
 
3-A. Kinship placement.   Place children who are taken from the custody of their parents with an adult relative when possible; there is a rebuttable presumption that placement with an adult relative is in the best interests of the child;
Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §4005-E, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2007, c. 371, §2, is further amended to read:
 
2. Placement.   A relative who is designated as an interested person or a participant under section 4005-D or who has been granted intervenor status under the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 24 may request the court to order that the child be placed with the relative. A relative who has not been designated as a participant under section 4005-D may make the request for placement in writing. In making a decision on the request, the court shall make placement with a relative a priority for consideration for placement if that placement is in the best interests of the child and consistent with section 4003. There is a rebuttable presumption that placement with an adult relative is in the best interests of the child, as long as that such placement does not substantially interfere with reunification efforts.' ’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment amends the best interests standard when determining the placement of a child in custody such that there is a rebuttable presumption that placement with an adult relative is in the best interests of the child, as long as such placement does not substantially interfere with reunification efforts.