WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                   Ch. 6 26

(2) placing the child with relatives TO WHOM
ADOPTION, GUARDIANSHIP, OR CARE AND CUSTODY, IN DESCENDING ORDER
OF PRIORITY, ARE PLANNED TO BE GRANTED;

(3) adoption IN THE FOLLOWING DESCENDING ORDER OF
PRIORITY;

(I) BY A CURRENT FOSTER PARENT WITH WHOM THE
CHILD HAS RESIDED CONTINUALLY FOR AT LEAST THE 12 MONTHS PRIOR TO
DEVELOPING THE PERMANENT PLAN OR FOR A SUFFICIENT LENGTH OF TIME
TO HAVE ESTABLISHED POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND FAMILY TIES; OR

(II) BY ANOTHER APPROVED ADOPTIVE FAMILY;

(4) an independent living arrangement; or

(5) in exceptional situations as defined by rule or
regulation, long term foster care.

(D) FOSTER PARENTS WHO WISH TO CONTEST THE AGENCY'S
DECISION TO PLACE THE CHILD WITH ANOTHER ADOPTIVE FAMILY HAVE THE
RIGHT TO A TIMELY HEARING.

[(d)] (E) The Administration shall adopt rules and
regulations that, for the 12-month period beginning on October 1,
1983, and for each subsequent 12-month period, establish specific
goals as to the maximum number of children who will remain in
foster care for more than 2 years.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1987.

Approved June 2, 1987.

CHAPTER 626

(Senate Bill 598)

AN ACT concerning

Death Penalty - Minors

FOR the purpose of requiring providing that if a person found
guilty of murder in the first degree was less than a certain
age at the time the murder was committed, the person shall
be sentenced to imprisonment for life and may not be
sentenced to death; and providing for the application of
this Act.

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