Sec. 46b-129. (Formerly Sec. 51-310). Commitment of child or youth. Petition for neglected, uncared-for, dependent child or youth. Hearing re temporary custody, order to appear or petition. Review of
Sec. 46b-129. (Formerly Sec. 51-310). Commitment of child or youth. Petition
for neglected, uncared-for, dependent child or youth. Hearing re temporary custody, order to appear or petition. Review of permanency plan. Cost of care and
maintenance of child or youth; reimbursement. Revocation of commitment. Applicability of provisions re placement of child from another state and Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. (a) Any selectman, town manager, or town, city
or borough welfare department, any probation officer, or the Commissioner of Social
Services, the Commissioner of Children and Families or any child-caring institution or
agency approved by the Commissioner of Children and Families, a child or such child's
representative or attorney or a foster parent of a child, having information that a child
or youth is neglected, uncared-for or dependent, may file with the Superior Court that
has venue over such matter a verified petition plainly stating such facts as bring the
child or youth within the jurisdiction of the court as neglected, uncared-for or dependent,
within the meaning of section 46b-120, the name, date of birth, sex and residence of the
child or youth, the name and residence of such child's parents or guardian, and praying
for appropriate action by the court in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
Upon the filing of such a petition, except as otherwise provided in subsection (k) of
section 17a-112, the court shall cause a summons to be issued requiring the parent or
parents or the guardian of the child or youth to appear in court at the time and place
named, which summons shall be served not less than fourteen days before the date of
the hearing in the manner prescribed by section 46b-128, and the court shall further give
notice to the petitioner and to the Commissioner of Children and Families of the time
and place when the petition is to be heard not less than fourteen days prior to the hearing
in question.
(b) If it appears from the specific allegations of the petition and other verified affirmations of fact accompanying the petition and application, or subsequent thereto, that
there is reasonable cause to believe that (1) the child or youth is suffering from serious
physical illness or serious physical injury or is in immediate physical danger from the
child's or youth's surroundings, and (2) that as a result of said conditions, the child's
or youth's safety is endangered and immediate removal from such surroundings is necessary to ensure the child's or youth's safety, the court shall either (A) issue an order to
the parents or other person having responsibility for the care of the child or youth to
appear at such time as the court may designate to determine whether the court should
vest in some suitable agency or person the child's or youth's temporary care and custody
pending disposition of the petition, or (B) issue an order ex parte vesting in some suitable
agency or person the child's or youth's temporary care and custody. A preliminary
hearing on any ex parte custody order or order to appear issued by the court shall be
held not later than ten days after the issuance of such order. The service of such orders
may be made by any officer authorized by law to serve process, or by any probation
officer appointed in accordance with section 46b-123, investigator from the Department
of Administrative Services, state or local police officer or indifferent person. Such orders
shall include a conspicuous notice to the respondent written in clear and simple language
containing at least the following information: (i) That the order contains allegations that
conditions in the home have endangered the safety and welfare of the child or youth;
(ii) that a hearing will be held on the date on the form; (iii) that the hearing is the
opportunity to present the parents' position concerning the alleged facts; (iv) that an
attorney will be appointed for parents who cannot afford an attorney; (v) that such parents
may apply for a court-appointed attorney by going in person to the court address on the
form and are advised to go as soon as possible in order for the attorney to prepare for
the hearing; and (vi) if such parents have any questions concerning the case or appointment of counsel, any such parent is advised to go to the court or call the clerk's office
at the court as soon as possible. Upon application for appointed counsel, the court shall
promptly determine eligibility and, if the respondent is eligible, promptly appoint counsel. The expense for any temporary care and custody shall be paid by the town in which
such child or youth is at the time residing, and such town shall be reimbursed for such
expense by the town found liable for the child's or youth's support, except that where
a state agency has filed a petition pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this
section, the agency shall pay such expense. The agency shall give primary consideration
to placing the child or youth in the town where such child or youth resides. The agency
shall file in writing with the clerk of the court the reasons for placing the child or youth
in a particular placement outside the town where the child or youth resides. Upon issuance of an ex parte order, the court shall provide to the commissioner and the parent or
guardian specific steps necessary for each to take to address the ex parte order for the
parent or guardian to retain or regain custody of the child or youth. Upon the issuance
of such order, or not later than sixty days after the issuance of such order, the court
shall make a determination whether the Department of Children and Families made
reasonable efforts to keep the child or youth with his or her parents or guardian prior
to the issuance of such order and, if such efforts were not made, whether such reasonable
efforts were not possible, taking into consideration the child's or youth's best interests,
including the child's or youth's health and safety.
(c) In any proceeding under this section, any grandparent of the child may make a
motion to intervene and the court shall grant such motion except for good cause shown.
Upon the granting of such motion, such grandparent may appear by counsel or in person.
(d) The preliminary hearing on the order of temporary custody or order to appear
or the first hearing on a petition filed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be
held in order for the court to: (1) Advise the parent or guardian of the allegations contained in all petitions and applications that are the subject of the hearing and the parent's
or guardian's right to counsel pursuant to subsection (b) of section 46b-135; (2) assure
that an attorney, and where appropriate, a separate guardian ad litem has been appointed
to represent the child or youth in accordance with subsection (b) of section 46b-123e
and sections 46b-129a and 46b-136; (3) upon request, appoint an attorney to represent
the respondent when the respondent is unable to afford representation, in accordance
with subsection (b) of section 46b-123e; (4) advise the parent or guardian of the right
to a hearing on the petitions and applications, to be held not later than ten days after the
date of the preliminary hearing if the hearing is pursuant to an order of temporary custody
or an order to show cause; (5) accept a plea regarding the truth of such allegations; (6)
make any interim orders, including visitation, that the court determines are in the best
interests of the child or youth. The court, after a hearing pursuant to this subsection,
shall order specific steps the commissioner and the parent or guardian shall take for the
parent or guardian to regain or to retain custody of the child or youth; (7) take steps to
determine the identity of the father of the child or youth, including ordering genetic
testing, if necessary, and order service of the petition and notice of the hearing date, if
any, to be made upon him; (8) if the person named as the father appears, and admits
that he is the father, provide him and the mother with the notices that comply with section
17b-27 and provide them with the opportunity to sign a paternity acknowledgment and
affirmation on forms that comply with section 17b-27. Such documents shall be executed
and filed in accordance with chapter 815y and a copy delivered to the clerk of the superior
court for juvenile matters; and (9) in the event that the person named as a father appears
and denies that he is the father of the child or youth, advise him that he may have no
further standing in any proceeding concerning the child, and either order genetic testing
to determine paternity or direct him to execute a written denial of paternity on a form
promulgated by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator. Upon execution of such
a form by the putative father, the court may remove him from the case and afford him
no further standing in the case or in any subsequent proceeding regarding the child or
youth until such time as paternity is established by formal acknowledgment or adjudication in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) If any parent or guardian fails, after service of such order, to appear at the preliminary hearing, the court may enter or sustain an order of temporary custody.
(f) Upon request, or upon its own motion, the court shall schedule a hearing on the
order for temporary custody or the order to show cause to be held not later than ten days
after the date of the preliminary hearing. Such hearing shall be held on consecutive days
except for compelling circumstances or at the request of the parent or guardian.
(g) At a contested hearing on the order for temporary custody or order to appear,
credible hearsay evidence regarding statements of the child or youth made to a mandated
reporter or to a parent may be offered by the parties and admitted by the court upon a
finding that the statement is reliable and trustworthy and that admission of such statement
is reasonably necessary. A signed statement executed by a mandated reporter under oath
may be admitted by the court without the need for the mandated reporter to appear
and testify unless called by a respondent or the child, provided the statement: (1) Was
provided at the preliminary hearing and promptly upon request to any counsel appearing
after the preliminary hearing; (2) reasonably describes the qualifications of the reporter
and the nature of his contact with the child; and (3) contains only the direct observations
of the reporter, and statements made to the reporter that would be admissible if the
reporter were to testify to them in court and any opinions reasonably based thereupon.
If a respondent or the child gives notice at the preliminary hearing that he intends to
cross-examine the reporter, the person filing the petition shall make the reporter available
for such examination at the contested hearing.
(h) If any parent or guardian fails, after due notice of the hearing scheduled pursuant
to subsection (g) of this section and without good cause, to appear at the scheduled date
for a contested hearing on the order of temporary custody or order to appear, the court
may enter or sustain an order of temporary custody.
(i) When a petition is filed in said court for the commitment of a child or youth, the
Commissioner of Children and Families shall make a thorough investigation of the case
and shall cause to be made a thorough physical and mental examination of the child or
youth if requested by the court. The court after hearing may also order a thorough physical or mental examination, or both, of a parent or guardian whose competency or ability
to care for a child or youth before the court is at issue. The expenses incurred in making
such physical and mental examinations shall be paid as costs of commitment are paid.
(j) Upon finding and adjudging that any child or youth is uncared-for, neglected or
dependent, the court may commit such child or youth to the Commissioner of Children
and Families. Such commitment shall remain in effect until further order of the court,
except that such commitment may be revoked or parental rights terminated at any time
by the court, or the court may vest such child's or youth's care and personal custody in
any private or public agency that is permitted by law to care for neglected, uncared-for
or dependent children or youths or with any person or persons found to be suitable and
worthy of such responsibility by the court. The court shall order specific steps that the
parent must take to facilitate the return of the child or youth to the custody of such
parent. The commissioner shall be the guardian of such child or youth for the duration
of the commitment, provided the child or youth has not reached the age of eighteen
years or, in the case of a child or youth in full-time attendance in a secondary school, a
technical school, a college or a state-accredited job training program, provided such
child or youth has not reached the age of twenty-one years, by consent of such youth,
or until another guardian has been legally appointed, and in like manner, upon such
vesting of the care of such child or youth, such other public or private agency or individual shall be the guardian of such child or youth until such child or youth has reached
the age of eighteen years or, in the case of a child or youth in full-time attendance in a
secondary school, a technical school, a college or a state-accredited job training program,
until such child or youth has reached the age of twenty-one years or until another guardian has been legally appointed. The commissioner may place any child or youth so
committed to the commissioner in a suitable foster home or in the home of a person
related by blood to such child or youth or in a licensed child-caring institution or in the
care and custody of any accredited, licensed or approved child-caring agency, within
or without the state, provided a child shall not be placed outside the state except for
good cause and unless the parents or guardian of such child are notified in advance of
such placement and given an opportunity to be heard, or in a receiving home maintained
and operated by the Commissioner of Children and Families. In placing such child or
youth, the commissioner shall, if possible, select a home, agency, institution or person
of like religious faith to that of a parent of such child or youth, if such faith is known
or may be ascertained by reasonable inquiry, provided such home conforms to the standards of said commissioner and the commissioner shall, when placing siblings, if possible, place such children together. As an alternative to commitment, the court may place
the child or youth in the custody of the parent or guardian with protective supervision
by the Commissioner of Children and Families subject to conditions established by the
court. Upon the issuance of an order committing the child or youth to the Commissioner
of Children and Families, or not later than sixty days after the issuance of such order, the
court shall determine whether the Department of Children and Families made reasonable
efforts to keep the child or youth with his or her parents or guardian prior to the issuance
of such order and, if such efforts were not made, whether such reasonable efforts were
not possible, taking into consideration the child's or youth's best interests, including
the child's or youth's health and safety.
(k) (1) Nine months after placement of the child or youth in the care and custody
of the commissioner pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement, or removal of a
child or youth pursuant to section 17a-101g or an order issued by a court of competent
jurisdiction, whichever is earlier, the commissioner shall file a motion for review of a
permanency plan. Nine months after a permanency plan has been approved by the court
pursuant to this subsection, the commissioner shall file a motion for review of the permanency plan. Any party seeking to oppose the commissioner's permanency plan shall
file a motion in opposition not later than thirty days after the filing of the commissioner's
motion for review of the permanency plan, which motion shall include the reason therefor. A permanency hearing on any motion for review of the permanency plan shall be
held not later than ninety days after the filing of such motion. The court shall hold
evidentiary hearings in connection with any contested motion for review of the permanency plan. The commissioner shall have the burden of proving that the proposed permanency plan is in the best interests of the child or youth. After the initial permanency
hearing, subsequent permanency hearings shall be held not less frequently than every
twelve months while the child or youth remains in the custody of the Commissioner of
Children and Families. The court shall provide notice to the child or youth, and the
parent or guardian of such child or youth of the time and place of the court hearing on
any such motion not less than fourteen days prior to such hearing.
(2) At a permanency hearing held in accordance with the provisions of subdivision
(1) of this subsection, the court shall approve a permanency plan that is in the best
interests of the child or youth and takes into consideration the child's or youth's need
for permanency. The child's or youth's health and safety shall be of paramount concern
in formulating such plan. Such permanency plan may include the goal of (A) revocation
of commitment and reunification of the child or youth with the parent or guardian, with
or without protective supervision; (B) transfer of guardianship; (C) long-term foster
care with a relative licensed as a foster parent or certified as a relative caregiver; (D)
adoption and filing of termination of parental rights; or (E) such other planned permanent
living arrangement ordered by the court, provided the Commissioner of Children and
Families has documented a compelling reason why it would not be in the best interest
of the child or youth for the permanency plan to include the goals in subparagraphs (A)
to (D), inclusive, of this subdivision. Such other planned permanent living arrangement
may include, but not be limited to, placement of a child or youth in an independent
living program or long term foster care with an identified foster parent.
(3) At a permanency hearing held in accordance with the provisions of subdivision
(1) of this subsection, the court shall review the status of the child, the progress being
made to implement the permanency plan, determine a timetable for attaining the permanency plan, determine the services to be provided to the parent if the court approves a
permanency plan of reunification and the timetable for such services, and determine
whether the commissioner has made reasonable efforts to achieve the permanency plan.
The court may revoke commitment if a cause for commitment no longer exists and it
is in the best interests of the child or youth.
(4) If the court approves the permanency plan of adoption: (A) The Commissioner
of Children and Families shall file a petition for termination of parental rights not later
than sixty days after such approval if such petition has not previously been filed; (B)
the commissioner may conduct a thorough adoption assessment and child-specific recruitment; and (C) the court may order that the child be photo-listed within thirty days
if the court determines that such photo-listing is in the best interest of the child. As used in
this subdivision, "thorough adoption assessment" means conducting and documenting
face-to-face interviews with the child, foster care providers and other significant parties
and "child specific recruitment" means recruiting an adoptive placement targeted to
meet the individual needs of the specific child, including, but not limited to, use of the
media, use of photo-listing services and any other in-state or out-of-state resources that
may be used to meet the specific needs of the child, unless there are extenuating circumstances that indicate that such efforts are not in the best interest of the child.
(l) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall pay directly to the person or
persons furnishing goods or services determined by said commissioner to be necessary
for the care and maintenance of such child or youth the reasonable expense thereof,
payment to be made at intervals determined by said commissioner; and the Comptroller
shall draw his or her order on the Treasurer, from time to time, for such part of the
appropriation for care of committed children or youths as may be needed in order to
enable the commissioner to make such payments. The commissioner shall include in the
department's annual budget a sum estimated to be sufficient to carry out the provisions of
this section. Notwithstanding that any such child or youth has income or estate, the
commissioner may pay the cost of care and maintenance of such child or youth. The
commissioner may bill to and collect from the person in charge of the estate of any child
or youth aided under this chapter, or the payee of such child's or youth's income, the
total amount expended for care of such child or youth or such portion thereof as any
such estate or payee is able to reimburse, provided the commissioner shall not collect
from such estate or payee any reimbursement for the cost of care or other expenditures
made on behalf of such child or youth from (1) the proceeds of any cause of action
received by such child or youth; (2) any lottery proceeds due to such child or youth; (3)
any inheritance due to such child or youth; (4) any payment due to such child or youth
from a trust other than a trust created pursuant to 42 USC 1396p, as amended from time
to time; or (5) the decedent estate of such child or youth.
(m) The commissioner, a parent or the child's attorney may file a motion to revoke
a commitment, and, upon finding that cause for commitment no longer exists, and that
such revocation is in the best interests of such child or youth, the court may revoke the
commitment of such child or youth. No such motion shall be filed more often than once
every six months.
(n) Upon service on the parent, guardian or other person having control of the child
or youth of any order issued by the court pursuant to the provisions of subsections (b)
and (j) of this section, the child or youth concerned shall be surrendered to the person
serving the order who shall forthwith deliver the child or youth to the person, agency,
department or institution awarded custody in the order. Upon refusal of the parent,
guardian or other person having control of the child or youth to surrender the child or
youth as provided in the order, the court may cause a warrant to be issued charging the
parent, guardian or other person having control of the child or youth with contempt of
court. If the person arrested is found in contempt of court, the court may order such
person confined until the person complies with the order, but for not more than six
months, or may fine such person not more than five hundred dollars, or both.
(o) A foster parent, prospective adoptive parent or relative caregiver shall receive
notice and have the right to be heard for the purposes of this section in Superior Court
in any proceeding concerning a foster child living with such foster parent, prospective
adoptive parent or relative caregiver. A foster parent, prospective adoptive parent or
relative caregiver who has cared for a child or youth shall have the right to be heard and
comment on the best interests of such child or youth in any proceeding under this section
which is brought not more than one year after the last day the foster parent, prospective
adoptive parent or relative caregiver provided such care.
(p) Upon motion of any sibling of any child committed to the Department of Children and Families pursuant to this section, such sibling shall have the right to be heard
concerning visitation with, and placement of, any such child. In awarding any visitation
or modifying any placement, the court shall be guided by the best interests of all siblings
affected by such determination.
(q) The provisions of section 17a-152, regarding placement of a child from another
state, and section 17a-175, regarding the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, shall apply to placements pursuant to this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 2634, subs. (a)-(e); 1949, 1953, 1955, S. 1469d, subs. (a)-(e); 1957, P.A. 50; 1959, P.A. 293; 1967,
P.A. 698; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 7; 1971, P.A. 150; 184; 231; 253; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 24; 294, S. 18; P.A. 73-205, S. 5; 73-546, S. 2; 73-625, S. 3, 4; P.A. 74-251, S. 10, 11; P.A. 75-420, S. 4, 6; 75-492, S. 1, 2; 75-602, S. 4, 13; P.A. 76-436, S.
16, 668, 681; P.A. 77-272; 77-273; 77-614, S. 71, 521, 587, 610; P.A. 78-223, S. 1, 2; 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 79-423;
79-579; 79-631, S. 84, 111; P.A. 80-483, S. 121, 186; P.A. 82-181, S. 1, 2; P.A. 84-449, S. 5, 7; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-262, S. 1, 87; P.A. 95-238, S. 4; P.A. 96-246, S. 20, 21; P.A. 97-319, S. 19, 22; P.A. 98-185; 98-241, S. 5, 18; June Sp.
Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 102, 121; P.A. 00-137, S. 2, 3, 15; P.A. 01-142, S. 6-8; 01-149, S. 1; 01-195, S. 37, 38, 181; June Sp.
Sess. P.A. 01-2, S. 33, 69; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 129, 131; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 29, 30; P.A. 03-243, S. 2;
P.A. 06-102, S. 9; 06-196, S. 173; P.A. 07-159, S. 5; 07-174, S. 3; 07-203, S. 1.)
History: 1959 act specified that commissioner is to pay cost of child's care and maintenance and collect cost of care
and maintenance from child's estate or income in Subsec. (d); 1967 act added "dependent child" to classification of children
within section and added custody by private or public agency to Subsec. (c); 1969 act rephrased provisions and rearranged
Subsecs., authorized filing in Subsec. (a) by town manager, local welfare department and commission on youth services,
deleting authority for parent or guardian, Long Lane School and Connecticut State Farm for Women to file and added
provisions in Subsec. (c) re physical and/or mental examinations of parents or guardians; 1971 acts authorized application
by person who acknowledges paternity of a child born out of wedlock in Subsec. (f), added Subsec. (g) re surrender of
child upon court order, rephrased provision in Subsec. (e) re recovery of costs of child's care and maintenance and specified
in Subsec. (b) who may serve orders for temporary custody; 1972 acts changed age at which child's guardianship terminates
from 21 to 18, reflecting changed age of majority, in Subsec. (d) and referred to annual rather than biennial budgets in
Subsec. (e); P.A. 73-205 authorized court to order child's parent or person responsible for child to show cause why temporary
custody should not be vested in suitable agency or person pending hearing and specified that hearing must be held within
10 days from issuance of order in Subsec. (b); P.A. 73-546 rephrased provision in Subsec. (e) re recovery of costs of child's
care and maintenance; P.A. 73-625 extended period of guardianship until child is twenty-one where he is in full-time
attendance in secondary or technical school, college or state-accredited job training program in Subsec. (d); P.A. 74-251
authorized commitments to commissioner of children and youth services after April 1, 1975, in Subsecs. (a) and (d); P.A.
75-420 replaced welfare commissioner with commissioner of social services generally; P.A. 75-492 deleted reference to
welfare commissioner and authorized filing by child, his representative, attorney or foster parent in Subsec. (a); P.A. 75-602 applied provisions to youths, included in Subsec. (a) reference to "dependent" children and substituted children and
youth services commissioner for welfare commissioner in Subsec. (c); P.A. 76-436 deleted references to superior court
for references to juvenile court where appearing, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-272 added proviso in Subsec. (d) re
conditions which must be met for out-of-state placements; P.A. 77-273 added Subsec. (h) re standing of foster parent;
P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 replaced central collections division of finance and control department with department of
administrative services in Subsec. (b) and, effective January 1, 1979, replaced references to social services commissioner
with references to human resources commissioner; P.A. 78-223 specified commissioner in Subsec. (e) as commissioner
"of the department to which the child or youth is committed"; P.A. 79-423 added exception in Subsec. (b) re payment of
expenses of temporary care and custody by state agencies; P.A. 79-579 deleted reference to human resources commissioner
in Subsec. (d), placed limitations on period of commitment in that Subsec., inserted new Subsec. (e) re procedure when
expiration of commitment period is near to revoke or extend commitment or terminate parental rights, relettering former
Subsecs. (e) to (h) accordingly, and amended Subsec. (i), formerly (h), to apply with regard to revocation of commitments;
P.A. 79-631 and P.A. 80-483 made technical changes to reflect final deletion of extraneous references to commissioner
of human resources; Sec. 17-62 temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-310 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-129 in 1979,
(see note to Sec. 17-62) and references to other sections within provisions revised as necessary by the Revisors to reflect
their transfer; P.A. 82-181 amended Subsecs. (d) and (e) by reducing the maximum period of commitment from 2 years
to 18 months; P.A. 84-449 amended Subsec. (a) by adding "except as otherwise provided in subsection (e) of section 17-43a"; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of
children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department
of social services for commissioner and department of human resources, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-238 amended
Subsecs. (d) and (e) to change the maximum period of commitment from 18 months to 12 months and amended Subsec.
(e) to require that the court determine the appropriateness of continued efforts to reunify the child or youth with his family;
P.A. 96-246 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision requiring court to provide commissioner and parent with specific
steps for parent to facilitate return of child to custody of parent or maintain custody of child and amended Subsec. (g) by
permitting attorney who represented child in prior or pending hearing, attorney appointed by Superior Court and attorney
retained by child over fourteen to make application for revocation of commitment; P.A. 97-319 amended Subsec. (d) to
add provision re court orders of steps the parent must take to facilitate return of a child or youth to the custody of the parent
and provision re placement of siblings and alternatives to commitment, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-185 amended
Subsec. (i) by providing standing to foster parents to comment on the best interest of the child or youth; P.A. 98-241
substantially revised section, amending provisions re allegations of petition, preliminary hearing on ex parte custody order
or hearing on petition, notice re rights of parents re hearing, consideration of placement of child in town where child resides,
necessary steps for parent to regain custody of child, intervention by grandparents, and contested hearing on order of
temporary custody, adding new Subsecs. (c) to (h), inclusive, and redesignating former Subsecs. (c), (d), (f), (h) and (i) as
Subsecs. (i), (j), (l), (n) and (o); replaced former Subsec. (e) with new Subsec. (k) re filing of permanency plan and
motion to extend or revoke commitment by Commissioner of Children and Families, basis for determination by court, and
determination by court, and replaced former Subsec. (g) with new Subsec. (m) re motion to revoke commitment; June Sp.
Sess. P.A. 98-1 made technical changes in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 00-137 changed reference in Subsec.
(a) from Subsec. (d) to Subsec. (k) of Sec. 17a-112, made technical changes in Subsec. (d), and in Subsec. (e) deleted "and
enter a default" after "order of temporary custody" and added Subsec. (k)(3)(F) providing that if permanency plan identifies
adoption as option, thorough adoption assessment and child specific recruitment is required, and defining "thorough
adoption assessment" and "child specific recruitment", relettered former (F) as (G), and added provision to Subsec.
(k)(3)(G) that at permanency plan hearing, court shall review status of child, progress made to implement permanency
plan and determine timetable for attaining permanency plan, and deleted Subsec. (k)(4) re revocation of commitment by
operation of law, following dismissal of termination petition, or denial of motion to transfer guardianship; P.A. 01-142
amended Subsec. (j) by deleting provisions re 12-month commitment period and extension, providing that commitment
shall remain in effect until further order of the court pursuant to Subsec. (k), and making technical changes for purposes
of gender neutrality, amended Subsec. (k) by changing review of permanency plan to 9 months after placement in custody
of commissioner or removal of child or youth by order of court whichever is earlier, deleting former provisions re 10 and
12-month periods and extension, giving party 30 days to file motion in opposition to permanency plan or the maintaining
or revocation of commitment and requiring hearing to be held within 90 days of filing motion, requiring evidentiary hearing
re any contested motion, adding provisions re burden of proof and subsequent permanency hearings, requiring court to
find by clear and convincing evidence that efforts to reunite child with parents is inappropriate, making child or youth's
health and safety to be of paramount concern in formulating permanency plan, deleting provisions re thorough adoption
assessment and child specific recruitment, requiring commissioner to document compelling reason why goals in Subdiv.
(3)(A) to (D) are not in best interest of child, requiring permanency hearing to determine whether commissioner has made
reasonable efforts to achieve permanency plan and making conforming and technical changes, amended Subsec. (o) by
changing "standing" to "right to be heard" for foster parents in matters re placement or revocation of commitment of foster
child; P.A. 01-149 added Subsec. (p) re right to be heard of sibling of child committed to Department of Children and
Families concerning visitation with and placement of such child and re court guided by best interest of all siblings in
awarding visitation or modifying placement; P.A. 01-195 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) and (k), effective July
11, 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 amended Subsec. (k) by adding provisions, designated as Subdiv. (5), thorough adoption
assessment and child-specific recruitment; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 revised effective date of June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 but
without affecting this section; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7 amended Subsec. (b) to add provision requiring the court upon
issuance of order, or not later than 60 days thereafter, to make a determination whether the Department of Children and
Families made reasonable efforts to keep the child or youth with his or her parents or guardian prior to the issuance of
such order and, if such efforts were not made, whether such reasonable efforts were not possible considering the best
interests of the child or youth and to make technical changes and amended Subsec. (j) to add provision requiring the court
upon issuance of an order committing the child or youth to the Commissioner of Children and Families, or not later than
60 days thereafter, to make a determination whether the Department of Children and Families made reasonable efforts to
keep the child or youth with his or her parents or guardian prior to the issuance of such order and, if such efforts were not
made, whether such reasonable efforts were not possible considering the best interests of the child or youth and to make
technical changes, effective August 15, 2002; P.A. 03-243 added Subsec. (q) re application of Secs. 17a-152 and 17a-175
to placements pursuant to section; P.A. 06-102 made technical changes, amended Subsec. (j) to delete reference to provisions
of Subsec. (k) re order of the court, amended Subsec. (k)(1) to delete references to motion to maintain or revoke commitment,
require that motion for review include reason therefor, and substitute burden of proving that permanency plan is in best
interests of child or youth for burden of establishing that commitment should be maintained, deleted former Subsec. (k)(2)
re court hearing on reunification, redesignated existing Subsec. (k)(3) to (5) as (k)(2) to (4), amended Subsec. (k)(2) to
substitute "reunification" for "placement", amended Subsec. (k)(3) to require court to determine services to be provided
to parent if court approves permanency plan of reunification and timetable for services, delete provision re court to maintain
commitment if in best interests of child or youth, and substitute "may" for "shall" re revocation of commitment, amended
Subsec. (k)(4) to require commissioner to petition for termination of parental rights not later than 60 days after permanency
plan of adoption is approved if petition not previously filed, amended Subsec. (m) to substitute "interests" for "interest
and welfare", and amended Subsec. (o) to reference motion for review of permanency plan (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (j),
the word "youth" in the phrase "neglected, uncared-for or dependent children or youth" was replaced editorially by the
Revisors with "youths" for consistency with P.A. 06-196); P.A. 06-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (l), effective
June 7, 2006; P.A. 07-159 amended Subsec. (d) by adding provision re parent's or guardian's right to counsel pursuant to
Sec. 46b-135(b) in Subdiv. (1) and references to Sec. 46b-123e(b) in Subdivs. (2) and (3) and by deleting "as determined
by the court" in Subdiv. (3), effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 07-174 amended Subsec. (o) to apply provisions to prospective
adoptive parents and relative caregivers, change right to notice and to be heard "on a motion for review of a permanency plan
and in matters concerning the placement or revocation of commitment of a foster child" to "in any proceeding concerning a
foster child living with such foster parent, prospective adoptive parent or relative caregiver", and eliminate requirement
that former foster parent must have cared for a child or youth for "not less than six months" in order to have right to be
heard and comment on best interests of the child or youth; P.A. 07-203 amended Subsec. (l) by adding proviso limiting
commissioner's ability to collect reimbursement from the estate of a child or youth for his or her care and maintenance
and making a conforming change, effective July 10, 2007.
See Sec. 17a-109 re commitment of children to child-caring institutions.
Annotations to former sections 17-62 and 51-310:
Cited. 4 CS 254. Youth and emotional instability of parents held not sufficient to warrant finding that child was uncared
for or neglected. 21 CS 154. Cited. 26 CS 316.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 171 C. 630.
Subsec. (d):
Cited. 171 C. 630.
Cited. 33 CS 193.
Subsec. (f):
Foster parents are not parents for purposes of this subsection. 171 C. 630. Plaintiff-foster parent should have right to
reopen commitment of child under this subsection. Id., 630, 644 (Dissent).
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 179 C. 155. Cited. 187 C. 431. Cited. 189 C. 276. Cited. 190 C. 310. Confers exclusive jurisdiction on superior
court to enter orders in cases in which there is finding that child or youth is uncared for, neglected or dependent upon filing
of a neglect petition. 195 C. 344. Cited. 211 C. 151. Cannot be read together with Sec. 45a-717(f)(3) so as to permit the
custody determination made under this section to lead directly to the termination determination made under Sec. 45a-717(f)(3). Judgment of appellate court in In re Valerie D., 25 CA 586 reversed. 223 C. 492. Cited. 224 C. 263. Temporary
custody orders entered by Superior Court for Juvenile Matters pursuant to Subsecs. (a) and (b) are final judgments for
purposes of appeal. 256 C. 383. Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction when a neglect petition is filed pursuant to this
section; existence of a will appointing testamentary guardian does not deprive it of that jurisdiction. 260 C. 182.
Cited. 1 CA 463. Cited. 6 CA 360. Cited. 9 CA 506. Cited. 10 CA 428. Cited. 13 CA 626. Cited. 22 CA 656. Cited. 26
CA 58. Cited. 29 CA 112; Id., 600. Cited. 33 CA 632. Cited. 35 CA 276. Cited. 40 CA 366. Right to family integrity is
not absolute; state's intervention in family matters is justified when it is found that a child has been neglected or uncared
for. 76 CA 693. Use of "shall" within statutory framework is directory and court did not lack jurisdiction. 87 CA 210.
Cited. 39 CS 514. Cited. 43 CS 108. Cited. 44 CS 235. P.A. 95-238 Sec. 4(e) cited. Id., 551. Section does not govern
termination of parental rights petitions. 47 CS 273. Right to family integrity is not absolute; state's intervention in family
matters is justified when it is found that a child has been neglected or uncared for. 76 CA 693.
Subsec. (a):
Authority to draft and sign petitions to terminate parental rights not limited to attorneys. 247 C. 1. Where commitment
of children not contested, respondent parents not aggrieved and exhaustion of administrative remedies not required. 262
C. 155.
Cited. 2 CA 705. Cited. 9 CA 98. Statute does not require that a respondent parent have custody for court to adjudicate
a neglect petition. 51 CA 667.
Cited. 41 CS 23.
Subsec. (b):
Held constitutional; burden of proof and standard of proof discussed. 189 C. 276. Cited. 192 C. 254.
Adjudication of neglect may be based on potential risk of harm. 58 CA 119. Specific steps prescribed by court may
not be interpreted as orders unto themselves from which the court may issue a contempt order. 64 CA 55.
Subdiv. (2) cited. 41 CS 505.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 192 C. 254. Cited. 216 C. 563.
Does not violate due process. 10 CA 428.
Cited. 44 CS 551.
Subsec. (d):
Cited. 192 C. 254. Cited. 230 C. 459. Cited. 238 C. 146.
Cited. 8 CA 656. Cited. 9 CA 608. Cited. 19 CA 371. Cited. 31 CA 400; judgment reversed, see 230 C. 459. Cited. 45
CA 606.
Cited. 41 CS 23; Id., 145; Id., 505. Cited. 42 CS 562.
Subsec. (e):
Cited. 192 C. 254.
"Shall" construed to be directory rather than mandatory. 9 CA 506. Cited. Id., 608. Cited. 23 CA 410. Department of
Children and Families (DCF) may petition for an extension of commitment pursuant to the section even when petition to
terminate parental rights is pending. 40 CA 366. Order of trial court extending commitment of minor child to commissioner
is final judgment for purposes of appeal. 49 CA 361.
Cited. 44 CS 551.
Subsec. (f):
Cited. 177 C. 648.
Subsec. (g):
Cited. 192 C. 254.
Cited. 45 CA 606.
Cited. 41 CS 505. Cited. 42 CS 562.
Subsec. (i):
Cited. 188 C. 259.
Subsec. (j):
Trial court must both find and adjudicate on one of three distinct grounds prior to awarding custody of child to Department
of Children and Families. 276 C. 146.
Cited. 46 CA 69.
Subsec. (m):
Because respondent parents have not exhausted their statutory remedy of moving to revoke commitment pursuant to
section, court lacks jurisdiction over their claim. 66 CA 305. Notwithstanding trial court's failure to make express finding
with respect to whether a cause for commitment remained for two minor children committed to custody of Commissioner
of Children and Families, trial court's denial of respondent mother's motion to revoke the commitment was proper given
its clear and unequivocal finding that it would be in the best interests of the children to remain with their foster parents.
93 CA 25. Trial court improperly revoked, sua sponte, child's commitment to Department of Children and Families and
acted outside scope of its authority pursuant to section by opening judgment and revoking commitment without proper
evidence, without giving notice to the parties and foster mother, and without giving foster mother opportunity to be heard
as required by Subsec. (o). 98 CA 319.