Children in Need of Assistance - Permanency Plan Requirements
HB1383 changes the requirements a juvenile court must consider when reviewing permanency plans for a child in need of assistance (CINA) or conducting a guardianship review hearing. The bill expands the “reasonable efforts” inquiry for local departments of social services by requiring the court to evaluate whether the department has worked to meet a child’s individualized needs in much greater detail, including health, medical and dental care, education planning, safety, emotional stability, placement stability, socialization, financial readiness, possession of key documents, and preparation for independence.
For youth who are at least 18 years old, the bill adds specific expectations before emancipation: enrolling the child in continuing health insurance, screening for public benefits and helping with applications, developing a stable housing plan expected to last at least 12 months after emancipation, and connecting the child to education, training, or employment opportunities that support independent living. The bill also requires the court to assess reasonable efforts based on evidence presented at the current hearing, rather than relying on findings from earlier hearings, and clarifies that for children with developmental disabilities or mental illness, the court must consider whether a voluntary placement agreement could have been used before custody placement.
HB1383 amends § 3-816.1(b) of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, strengthening statutory duties in CINA and related review proceedings. It broadens the factors courts must review when determining whether a local department made reasonable efforts, effectively increasing documentation and service-planning obligations for child welfare agencies and giving courts a more detailed framework for evaluating compliance. The bill is likely to affect local departments of social services, juvenile courts, foster care and guardianship cases, and older youth transitioning out of care.
The bill appears to have been received favorably in the House, where it passed third reading unanimously (125-0), indicating broad bipartisan support and little visible opposition in that chamber. The committee report was favorable, and there were no recorded committee transcript snippets indicating controversy. Overall, the available legislative history suggests the bill was viewed as a child-welfare improvement focused on permanency planning and transition supports for vulnerable youth.
No major points of contention are evident in the available record. The main policy choice in the bill is the expansion of what counts as “reasonable efforts” by local departments, which could be seen as increasing agency responsibilities and judicial scrutiny. Any potential concerns would likely center on the administrative burden on local departments, the specificity of required services, and the practical ability to secure housing, benefits, and post-emancipation supports for older youth, but no recorded opposition appears in the provided materials.