Lawmakers approve foster care placement notifications

Senators gave final approval April 28 to a bill that establishes notification requirements for child foster care placement court reviews and hearings.

LB648, introduced by Imperial Sen. Mark Christensen, requires the state Department of Health and Human Services or contract agency to make a child’s placement information available for courts to use when notifying foster parents of placement hearings. The notice must be mailed or personally delivered to the counsel or party at least five days before the review or hearing.

The bill also requires the court to ask a foster parent, preadoptive parent or relative caring for the child present at the hearing about the well-being of the child.

The bill passed on a 44-0 vote.