AN ACT to make various changes to the juvenile laws pertaining to abuse, neglect, and dependency.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 7B‑101 is amended by adding the following new subdivisions to read:
"§ 7B‑101.  Definitions.
As used in this Subchapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following words have the listed meanings:
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(8a)	Department. – Each county's child welfare agency. Unless the context clearly implies otherwise, when used in this Subchapter, "department" or "department of social services" shall refer to the county agency providing child welfare services, regardless of the name of the agency or whether the county has consolidated human services, pursuant to G.S. 153A‑77.
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(15a)	Nonrelative kin. – An individual having a substantial relationship with the juvenile. In the case of a juvenile member of a State‑recognized tribe as set forth in G.S. 143B‑407(a), nonrelative kin also includes any member of a State‑recognized tribe or a member of a federally recognized tribe, whether or not there is a substantial relationship with the juvenile.
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SECTION 2.  G.S. 7B‑401.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 7B‑401.1.  Parties.
(a)	Petitioner. – Only a county director of social services or the director's authorized representative may file a petition alleging that a juvenile is abused, neglected, or dependent. The petitioner shall remain a party until the court terminates its jurisdiction in the case.
(b)	Parents. – The juvenile's parent shall be a party unless one of the following applies:
(1)	The parent's rights have been terminated.
(2)	The parent has relinquished the juvenile for adoption, unless the court orders that the parent be made a party.
(3)	The parent has been convicted under G.S. 14‑27.2 or G.S. 14‑27.3 for an offense that resulted in the conception of the juvenile.
(c)	Guardian. – A person who is the child's court‑appointed guardian of the person or general guardian when the petition is filed shall be a party. A person appointed as the child's guardian pursuant to G.S. 7B‑600 shall automatically become a party but only if the court has found that the guardianship is the permanent plan for the juvenile.
(d)	Custodian. – A person who is the juvenile's custodian, as defined in G.S. 7B‑101(8), when the petition is filed shall be a party. A person to whom custody of the juvenile is awarded in the juvenile proceeding shall automatically become a party but only if the court has found that the custody arrangement is the permanent plan for the juvenile.
(e)	Caretaker. – A caretaker shall be a party only if (i) the petition includes allegations relating to the caretaker, (ii) the caretaker has assumed the status and obligation of a parent, or (iii) the court orders that the caretaker be made a party.
(e1)	Foster Parent. – A foster parent as defined in G.S. 131D‑10.2(9a) providing foster care for the juvenile is not a party to the case and may be allowed to intervene only if the foster parent has authority to file a petition to terminate the parental rights of the juvenile's parents pursuant to G.S. 7B‑1103.
(f)	The Juvenile. – The juvenile shall be a party.
(g)	Removal of a Party. – If a guardian, custodian, or caretaker is a party, the court may discharge that person from the proceeding, making the person no longer a party, if the court finds that the person does not have legal rights that may be affected by the action and that the person's continuation as a party is not necessary to meet the juvenile's needs.
(h)	Intervention. – Except as provided in G.S. 7B‑1103(b) and subsection (e1) of this section, the court shall not allow intervention by a person who is not the juvenile's parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker but may allow intervention by another county department of social services that has an interest in the proceeding. This section shall not prohibit the court from consolidating a juvenile proceeding with a civil action or claim for custody pursuant to G.S. 7B‑200."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 7B‑502 reads as rewritten:
"§ 7B‑502.  Authority to issue custody orders; delegation.
(a)	In the case of any juvenile alleged to be within the jurisdiction of the court, the court may order that the juvenile be placed in nonsecure custody pursuant to criteria set out in G.S. 7B‑503 when custody of the juvenile is necessary. The order for nonsecure custody may be entered ex parte. Unless the petition is being filed pursuant to G.S. 7B‑404, telephonic communication that the department will be seeking nonsecure custody shall be given to counsel, or if unavailable, to a partner or employee at the attorney's office when any of the following occur:
(1)	The department has received written notification that a respondent has counsel for the juvenile matter.
(2)	The respondent is represented by counsel in a juvenile proceeding within the same county involving another juvenile of the respondent.
Notice is not required to provisional counsel appointed pursuant to G.S. 7B‑602.
(b)	Any district court judge shall have the authority to issue nonsecure custody orders pursuant to G.S. 7B‑503. The chief district court judge may delegate the court's authority to persons other than district court judges by administrative order which shall be filed in the office of the clerk of superior court. The administrative order shall specify which persons shall be contacted for approval of a nonsecure custody order pursuant to G.S. 7B‑503."
SECTION 4.  G.S. 7B‑505 reads as rewritten:
"§ 7B‑505.  Placement while in nonsecure custody.
(a)	A juvenile meeting the criteria set out in G.S. 7B‑503 may be placed in nonsecure custody with the department of social services or a person designated in the order for temporary residential placement in:
(1)	A licensed foster home or a home otherwise authorized by law to provide such care; or
(2)	A facility operated by the department of social services; or
(3)	Any other home or facility, including a relative's home approved by the court and designated in the order.
(b)	The court shall order the department to make diligent efforts to notify relatives and other persons with legal custody of a sibling of the juvenile that the juvenile is in nonsecure custody and of any hearings scheduled to occur pursuant to G.S. 7B‑506, unless the court finds the notification would be contrary to the best interests of the juvenile. In placing a juvenile in nonsecure custody under this section, the court shall first consider whether a relative of the juvenile is willing and able to provide proper care and supervision of the juvenile in a safe home. If the court finds that the relative is willing and able to provide proper care and supervision in a safe home, then the court shall order placement of the juvenile with the relative unless the court finds that placement with the relative would be contrary to the best interests of the juvenile.
(c)	If the court does not place the juvenile with a relative, the court may consider whether nonrelative kin or other persons with legal custody of a sibling of the juvenile are willing and able to provide proper care and supervision of the juvenile in a safe home. The court may order the department to notify the juvenile's State‑recognized tribe of the need for nonsecure custody for the purpose of locating relatives or nonrelative kin for placement. The court may order placement of the juvenile with nonrelative kin if the court finds the placement is in the juvenile's best interests.
(d)	In placing a juvenile in nonsecure custody under this section, the court shall also consider whether it is in the juvenile's best interest to remain in the juvenile's community of residence. In placing a juvenile in nonsecure custody under this section, the court shall consider the Indian Child Welfare Act, Pub. L. No. 95‑608, 25 U.S.C. §§ 1901, et seq., as amended, and the Howard M. Metzenbaum Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994, Pub. L. No. 103‑382, 108 Stat. 4056, as amended, as they may apply. Placement of a juvenile with a relative outside of this State must be in accordance with the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, Article 38 of this Chapter."
SECTION 5.  Article 5 of Chapter 7B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 7B‑505.1.  Juvenile placed in nonsecure custody of a department of social services.
(a)	Unless the court orders otherwise, when a juvenile is placed in the nonsecure custody of a county department of social services, the director may arrange for, provide, or consent to any of the following:
(1)	Routine medical and dental care or treatment.
(2)	Emergency medical, surgical, psychiatric, psychological, or mental health care or treatment.
(3)	Testing and evaluation in exigent circumstances.
(b)	When placing a juvenile in nonsecure custody of a county department of social services pursuant to G.S. 7B‑502, the court may authorize the director to consent to a Child Medical Evaluation upon written findings that demonstrate the director's compelling interest in having the juvenile evaluated prior to the hearing required by G.S. 7B‑506.
(c)	The director shall obtain consent from the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian for all care or treatment not covered by subsection (a) or (b) of this section, except that the court may authorize the director to provide consent after a hearing at which the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the care, treatment, or evaluation requested is in the juvenile's best interest. Care and treatment covered by this subsection includes:
(1)	Prescriptions for psychotropic medications.
(2)	Participation in clinical trials.
(3)	Immunizations when it is known that the parent has a bona fide religious objection to the standard schedule of immunizations.
(4)	Child Medical Evaluations not governed by subsection (b) of this section, comprehensive clinical assessments, or other mental health evaluations.
(5)	Surgical, medical, or dental procedures or tests that require informed consent.
(6)	Psychiatric, psychological, or mental health care or treatment that requires informed consent.
(d)	For any care or treatment provided, the director shall make reasonable efforts to promptly notify the parent, guardian, or custodian that care or treatment will be or has been provided and give the parent or guardian frequent status reports on the juvenile's treatment and the care provided. Upon request of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian, the director shall make available to the parent, guardian, or custodian any results or records of the aforementioned evaluations, except when prohibited by G.S. 122C‑53(d). The results of a Child Medical Evaluation shall only be disclosed according to the provisions of G.S. 7B‑700.
(e)	Except as prohibited by federal law, the department may disclose confidential information deemed necessary for the juvenile's assessment and treatment to a health care provider serving the juvenile.
(f)	Unless the court has ordered otherwise, except as prohibited by federal law, a health care provider shall disclose confidential information about a juvenile to a director of a county department of social services with custody of the juvenile and a parent, guardian, or custodian."
SECTION 6.  G.S. 7B‑506(h)(2a) reads as rewritten:
"(h)	At each hearing to determine the need for continued custody, the court shall determine the following:
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(2a)	If the court does not place the juvenile with a relative, the court may consider whether nonrelative kin or other persons with legal custody of a sibling of the juvenile is willing and able to provide proper care and supervision of the juvenile in a safe home. The court may order the department to notify the juvenile's State‑recognized tribe of the need for nonsecure custody for the purpose of locating relatives or nonrelative kin for placement. The court may order placement of the juvenile with nonrelative kin or other persons with legal custody of a sibling of the juvenile if the court finds the placement is in the juvenile's best interests."
SECTION 7.  G.S. 7B‑507 reads as rewritten:
"§ 7B‑507.  Juvenile placed in nonsecure custody of a department of social services.
(a)	An order placing or continuing the placement of a juvenile in the nonsecure custody of a county department of social services:
(1)	Shall contain a finding that the juvenile's continuation in or return to the juvenile's own home would be contrary to the juvenile's health and safety.
(2)	Shall contain specific findings as to whether a county department of social services has made reasonable efforts to prevent the need for placement of the juvenile. In determining whether efforts to prevent the placement of the juvenile were reasonable, the juvenile's health and safety shall be the paramount concern. The court may find that efforts to prevent the need for the juvenile's placement were precluded by an immediate threat of harm to the juvenile. A finding that reasonable efforts were not made by a county department of social services shall not preclude the entry of an order authorizing the juvenile's placement when the court finds that placement is necessary for the protection of the juvenile.
	
(4)	Shall specify that the juvenile's placement and care are the responsibility of the county department of social services and that the department is to provide or arrange for the foster care or other placement of the juvenile, unless after considering the department's recommendations, the court orders a specific placement the court finds to be in the juvenile's best interests.
(5)	May order services or other efforts aimed at returning the juvenile to a safe home.

	

	
	
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SECTION 8.  G.S. 7B‑800.1(a)(4) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Prior to the adjudicatory hearing, the court shall consider the following:
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(4)	Whether relatives, parents, or other persons with legal custody of a sibling of the juvenile have been identified and notified as potential resources for placement or support."
SECTION 9.  G.S. 7B‑901 reads as rewritten:
"§ 7B‑901.  Initial dispositional hearing.
(a)	The dispositional hearing shall take place immediately following the adjudicatory hearing and shall be concluded within 30 days of the conclusion of the adjudicatory hearing. The dispositional hearing may be informal and the court may consider written reports or other evidence concerning the needs of the juvenile. The juvenile and the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian shall have the right to present evidence, and they may advise the court concerning the disposition they believe to be in the best interests of the juvenile. The court may consider any evidence, including hearsay evidence as defined in G.S. 8C‑1, Rule 801, including testimony or evidence from any person who is not a party, that the court finds to be relevant, reliable, and necessary to determine the needs of the juvenile and the most appropriate disposition.
(b)	At the dispositional hearing, the court shall inquire as to the identity and location of any missing parent and whether paternity is at issue. The court shall include findings of the efforts undertaken to locate the missing parent and to serve that parent and efforts undertaken to establish paternity when paternity is an issue. The order may provide for specific efforts in determining the identity and location of any missing parent and specific efforts in establishing paternity. The court shall also inquire about efforts made to identify and notify relatives, parents, or other persons with legal custody of a sibling of the juvenile, as potential resources for placement or support.
(c)	If the disposition order places a juvenile in the custody of a county department of social services, the court shall direct that reasonable efforts for reunification as defined in G.S. 7B‑101 shall not be required if the court makes written findings of fact pertaining to any of the following:
(1)	A court of competent jurisdiction has determined that the parent has committed or encouraged the commission of, or allowed the continuation of, any of the following upon the juvenile:
a.	Sexual abuse.
b.	Chronic physical or emotional abuse.
c.	Torture.
d.	Abandonment.
e.	Chronic or toxic exposure to alcohol or controlled substances that causes impairment of or addiction in the juvenile.
f.	Any other act, practice, or conduct that increased the enormity or added to the injurious consequences of the abuse or neglect.
(2)	A court of competent jurisdiction has terminated involuntarily the parental rights of the parent to another child of the parent.
(3)	A court of competent jurisdiction has determined that (i) the parent has committed murder or voluntary manslaughter of another child of the parent; (ii) has aided, abetted, attempted, conspired, or solicited to commit murder or voluntary manslaughter of the child or another child of the parent; (iii) has committed a felony assault resulting in serious bodily injury to the child or another child of the parent; (iv) has committed sexual abuse against the child or another child of the parent; or (v) has been required to register as a sex offender on any government‑administered registry.
(d)	When the court determines that reunification efforts are not required, the court shall order a permanent plan as soon as possible, after providing each party with a reasonable opportunity to prepare and present evidence. The court shall schedule a subsequent hearing within 30 days to address the permanent plans in accordance with G.S. 7B‑906.1 and G.S. 7B‑906.2."
SECTION 10.  G.S. 7B‑903 reads as rewritten:
"§ 7B‑903.  Dispositional alternatives for abused, neglected, or dependent juvenile.
(a)	The following alternatives for disposition shall be available to any court exercising jurisdiction, and the court may combine any of the applicable alternatives when the court finds the disposition to be in the best interests of the juvenile:
(1)	Dismiss the case or continue the case in order to allow the parent, guardian, custodian, caretaker or others to take appropriate action.
(2)	Require that the juvenile be supervised in the juvenile's own home by the department of social services in the juvenile's county or by another individual as may be available to the court, subject to conditions applicable to the parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker as the court may specify.

	

	
	
(4)	Place the juvenile in the custody of a parent, relative, private agency offering placement services, or some other suitable person. If the court determines that the juvenile should be placed in the custody of an individual other than a parent, the court shall verify that the person receiving custody of the juvenile understands the legal significance of the placement and will have adequate resources to care appropriately for the juvenile.
(5)	Appoint a guardian of the person for the juvenile as provided in G.S. 7B‑600.
(6)	Place the juvenile in the custody of the department of social services in the county of the juvenile's residence. In the case of a juvenile who has legal residence outside the State, the court may place the juvenile in the physical custody of the department of social services in the county where the juvenile is found so that agency may return the juvenile to the responsible authorities in the juvenile's home state.
(a1)	In placing a juvenile in out‑of‑home care under this section, the court shall first consider whether a relative of the juvenile is willing and able to provide proper care and supervision of the juvenile in a safe home. If the court finds that the relative is willing and able to provide proper care and supervision in a safe home, then the court shall order placement of the juvenile with the relative unless the court finds that the placement is contrary to the best interests of the juvenile. In placing a juvenile in out‑of‑home care under this section, the court shall also consider whether it is in the juvenile's best interest to remain in the juvenile's community of residence. Placement of a juvenile with a relative outside of this State must be in accordance with the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.
(a2)	An order under this section placing or continuing the placement of the juvenile in out‑of‑home care shall contain a finding that the juvenile's continuation in or return to the juvenile's own home would be contrary to the juvenile's health and safety.
(a3)	An order under this section placing the juvenile in out‑of‑home care shall contain specific findings as to whether the department has made reasonable efforts to prevent the need for placement of the juvenile. In determining whether efforts to prevent the placement of the juvenile were reasonable, the juvenile's health and safety shall be the paramount concern.
The court may find that efforts to prevent the need for the juvenile's placement were precluded by an immediate threat of harm to the juvenile. A finding that reasonable efforts were not made by a county department of social services shall not preclude the entry of an order authorizing the juvenile's placement when the court finds that placement is necessary for the protection of the juvenile.
(b)	When the court has found that a juvenile has suffered physical abuse and that the individual responsible for the abuse has a history of violent behavior against people, the court shall consider the opinion of the mental health professional who performed an evaluation under G.S. 7B‑503(b) before returning the juvenile to the custody of that individual.
	
(d)	The court may order that the juvenile be examined by a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other qualified expert as may be needed for the court to determine the needs of the juvenile. Upon completion of the examination, the court shall conduct a hearing to determine whether the juvenile is in need of medical, surgical, psychiatric, psychological, or other treatment and who should pay the cost of the treatment. The county manager, or such person who shall be designated by the chairman of the county commissioners, of the juvenile's residence shall be notified of the hearing and allowed to be heard. Subject to G.S. 7B‑903.1, if the court finds the juvenile to be in need of medical, surgical, psychiatric, psychological, or other treatment, the court shall permit the parent or other responsible persons to arrange for treatment. If the parent declines or is unable to make necessary arrangements, the court may order the needed treatment, surgery, or care and the court may order the parent to pay the cost of the care pursuant to G.S. 7B‑904. If the court finds the parent is unable to pay the cost of treatment, the court shall order the county to arrange for treatment of the juvenile and to pay for the cost of the treatment. The county department of social services shall recommend the facility that will provide the juvenile with treatment.
(e)	If the court determines that the juvenile may be mentally ill or developmentally disabled, the court may order the county department of social services to coordinate with the appropriate representative of the area mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services authority or other managed care organization responsible for managing public funds for mental health and developmental disabilities to develop a treatment plan for the juvenile. The court shall not commit a juvenile directly to a State hospital or developmental center for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and orders purporting to commit a juvenile directly to a State hospital or developmental center for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities shall be void and of no effect. If the court determines that institutionalization is the best service for the juvenile, admission shall be with the voluntary consent of the parent, guardian, or custodian. If the parent, guardian, or custodian refuses to consent to admission to a mental hospital or developmental center for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the signature and consent of the court may be substituted for that purpose. A State hospital or developmental center for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities that refuses admission to a juvenile referred for admission by a court, or discharges a juvenile previously admitted on court referral prior to completion of treatment, shall submit to the court a written report setting out the reasons for denial of admission or discharge and setting out the juvenile's diagnosis, indications of mental illness or intellectual and developmental disabilities, indications of need for treatment, and a statement as to the location of any facility known to have a treatment program for the juvenile in question."
SECTION 11.  Article 9 of Chapter 7B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 7B‑903.1.  Juvenile placed in custody of a department of social services.
(a)	Except as prohibited by federal law, the director of a county department of social services with custody of a juvenile shall be authorized to make decisions about matters not addressed herein that are generally made by a juvenile's custodian, including, but not limited to, educational decisions and consenting to the sharing of the juvenile's information. The court may delegate any part of this authority to the juvenile's parent, foster parent, or another individual.
(b)	When a juvenile is in the custody or placement responsibility of a county department of social services, the placement provider may, in accordance with G.S. 131D‑10.2A, provide or withhold permission, without prior approval of the court or county department of social services, to allow a juvenile to participate in normal childhood activities. If such authorization is not in the juvenile's best interest, the court shall set out alternative parameters for approving normal childhood activities.
(c)	If a juvenile is removed from the home and placed in the custody or placement responsibility of a county department of social services, the director shall not allow unsupervised visitation with or return physical custody of the juvenile to the parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker without a hearing at which the court finds that the juvenile will receive proper care and supervision in a safe home.
(d)	When a county department of social services having custody or placement responsibility of a juvenile intends to change the juvenile's placement, the department shall give the guardian ad litem for the juvenile notice of its intention unless precluded by emergency circumstances from doing so. Where emergency circumstances exist, the department of social services shall notify the guardian ad litem or the attorney advocate within 72 hours of the placement change, unless local rules require notification within a shorter time period.
(e)	When a juvenile is placed in the custody of a county department of social services, the provisions of G.S. 7B‑505.1 apply."
SECTION 12.  G.S. 7B‑905 reads as rewritten:
"§ 7B‑905.  Dispositional order.
(a)	The dispositional order shall be in writing, signed, and entered no later than 30 days from the completion of the hearing, and shall contain appropriate findings of fact and conclusions of law. The court shall state with particularity, both orally and in the written order of disposition, the precise terms of the disposition including the kind, duration, and the person who is responsible for carrying out the disposition and the person or agency in whom custody is vested. If the order is not entered within 30 days following completion of the hearing, the clerk of court for juvenile matters shall schedule a subsequent hearing at the first session of court scheduled for the hearing of juvenile matters following the 30‑day period to determine and explain the reason for the delay and to obtain any needed clarification as to the contents of the order. The order shall be entered within 10 days of the subsequent hearing required by this subsection.
(b)	A dispositional order under which a juvenile is removed from the custody of a parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker shall direct that the review hearing required by G.S. 7B‑906.1 be held within 90 days from of the date of the dispositional hearing and, if practicable, shall set the date and time for the review hearing.
	
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SECTION 13.  G.S. 7B‑906.1(g) reads as rewritten:
"(g)	At the conclusion of each permanency planning hearing, the judge shall make specific findings as to the best plan of care to achieve a safe, permanent home for the juvenile within a reasonable period of time. The judge shall inform the parent, guardian, or custodian that failure or refusal to cooperate with the plan may result in an order of the court in a subsequent permanency planning hearing that reunification efforts may cease."
SECTION 14.  Article 9 of Chapter 7B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 7B‑906.2.  Permanent plans; concurrent planning.
(a)	At any permanency planning hearing pursuant to G.S. 7B‑906.1, the court shall adopt one or more of the following permanent plans the court finds is in the juvenile's best interest:
(1)	Reunification as defined by G.S. 7B‑101.
(2)	Adoption under Article 3 of Chapter 48 of the General Statutes.
(3)	Guardianship pursuant to G.S. 7B‑600(b).
(4)	Custody to a relative or other suitable person.
(5)	Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement (APPLA) pursuant to G.S. 7B‑912.
(6)	Reinstatement of parental rights pursuant to G.S. 7B‑1114.
(b)	At any permanency planning hearing, the court shall adopt concurrent permanent plans and shall identify the primary plan and secondary plan. Reunification shall remain a primary or secondary plan unless the court made findings under G.S. 7B‑901(c) or makes written findings that reunification efforts clearly would be unsuccessful or would be inconsistent with the juvenile's health or safety. The court shall order the county department of social services to make efforts toward finalizing the primary and secondary permanent plans and may specify efforts that are reasonable to timely achieve permanence for the juvenile.
(c)	At the first permanency planning hearing held pursuant to G.S. 7B‑906.1, the court shall make a finding about whether the efforts of the county department of social services toward reunification were reasonable, unless reunification efforts were ceased in accordance with G.S. 7B‑901(c) or this section. In every subsequent permanency planning hearing held pursuant to G.S. 7B‑906.1, the court shall make written findings about the efforts the county department of social services has made toward the primary permanent plan and any secondary permanent plans in effect prior to the hearing. The court shall make a conclusion about whether efforts to finalize the permanent plan were reasonable to timely achieve permanence for the juvenile.
(d)	At any permanency planning hearing under subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the court shall make written findings as to each of the following, which shall demonstrate lack of success:
(1)	Whether the parent is making adequate progress within a reasonable period of time under the plan.
(2)	Whether the parent is actively participating in or cooperating with the plan, the department, and the guardian ad litem for the juvenile.
(3)	Whether the parent remains available to the court, the department, and the guardian ad litem for the juvenile.
(4)	Whether the parent is acting in a manner inconsistent with the health or safety of the juvenile.
(e)	If the juvenile is 14 years of age or older, the court shall make written findings in accordance with G.S. 7B‑912(a), regardless of the juvenile's permanent plan."
SECTION 15.  Article 9 of Chapter 7B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 7B‑912.  Juveniles 14 years of age and older; Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement.
(a)	In addition to the permanency planning requirements under G.S. 7B‑906.1, at every permanency planning hearing for a juvenile in the custody of a county department of social services who has attained the age of 14 years, the court shall inquire and make written findings regarding each of the following:
(1)	The services provided to assist the juvenile in making a transition to adulthood.
(2)	The steps the county department of social services is taking to ensure that the foster family or other licensed placement provider follows the reasonable and prudent parent standard as provided in G.S. 131D‑10.2A.
(3)	Whether the juvenile has regular opportunities to engage in age‑appropriate or developmentally appropriate activities.
(b)	At or before the last scheduled permanency planning hearing, but at least 90 days before a juvenile attains 18 years of age, the court shall (i) inquire as to whether the juvenile has a copy of the juvenile's birth certificate, Social Security card, health insurance information, drivers license or other identification card, and any educational or medical records the juvenile requests and (ii) determine the person or entity that should assist the juvenile in obtaining these documents before the juvenile attains the age of 18 years.
(c)	If the court finds each of the following conditions applies, the court shall approve Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement (APPLA) as defined by P.L. 113‑183, as the juvenile's primary permanent plan:
(1)	The juvenile is 16 or 17 years old.
(2)	The county department of social services has made diligent efforts to place the juvenile permanently with a parent or relative or in a guardianship or adoptive placement.
(3)	Compelling reasons exist that it is not in the best interest of the juvenile to be placed permanently with a parent or relative or in a guardianship or adoptive placement.
(4)	APPLA is the best permanency plan for the juvenile.
(d)	If the court approves APPLA as the juvenile's permanent plan, the court shall, after questioning the juvenile, make written findings addressing the juvenile's desired permanency outcome."
SECTION 16.  G.S. 7B‑1001 reads as rewritten:
"§ 7B‑1001.  Right to appeal.
(a)	In a juvenile matter under this Subchapter, appeal of a final order of the court in a juvenile matter shall be made directly to the Court of Appeals. Only the following juvenile matters may be appealed:
(1)	Any order finding absence of jurisdiction.
(2)	Any order, including the involuntary dismissal of a petition, which in effect determines the action and prevents a judgment from which appeal might be taken.
(3)	Any initial order of disposition and the adjudication order upon which it is based.
(4)	Any order, other than a nonsecure custody order, that changes legal custody of a juvenile.
(5)	An order entered under G.S. 7B‑906.2(b) with rights to appeal properly preserved, as follows:
a.	The Court of Appeals shall review the order eliminating reunification as a permanent plan together with an appeal of the termination of parental rights order if all of the following apply:
1.	A motion or petition to terminate the parent's rights is heard and granted.
2.	The order terminating parental rights is appealed in a proper and timely manner.
3.	The order eliminating reunification as a permanent plan is identified as an issue in the record on appeal of the termination of parental rights.
b.	A party who is a parent shall have the right to appeal the order if no termination of parental rights petition or motion is filed within 180 days of the order.
c.	A party who is a custodian or guardian shall have the right to immediately appeal the order.
(6)	Any order that terminates parental rights or denies a petition or motion to terminate parental rights.
(b)	Notice of appeal and notice to preserve the right to appeal shall be given in writing by a proper party as defined in G.S. 7B‑1002 and shall be made within 30 days after entry and service of the order in accordance with G.S. 1A‑1, Rule 58.
(c)	Notice of appeal shall be signed by both the appealing party and counsel for the appealing party, if any. In the case of an appeal by a juvenile, notice of appeal shall be signed by the guardian ad litem attorney advocate."
SECTION 17.  G.S. 7B‑906.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 7B‑906.1.  Review and permanency planning hearings.
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(f)	In the case of a juvenile who is in the custody or placement responsibility of a county department of social services and has been in placement outside the home for 12 of the most recent 22 months, or a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that the parent (i) has abandoned the child, (ii) has committed murder or voluntary manslaughter of another child of the parent, or (iii) has aided, abetted, attempted, conspired, or solicited to commit murder or voluntary manslaughter of the child or another child of the parent, the director of the department of social services shall initiate a proceeding to terminate the parental rights of the parent unless the court finds any of the following:
(1)	The primary permanent plan for the juvenile is guardianship or custody with a relative or some other suitable person.
(2)	The court makes specific findings as to why the filing of a petition for termination of parental rights is not in the best interests of the child.
(3)	The department of social services has not provided the juvenile's family with services the department deems necessary when reasonable efforts are still required to enable the juvenile's return to a safe home.
(g)	At the conclusion of each permanency planning hearing, the judge shall make specific findings as to the best permanent plans to achieve a safe, permanent home for the juvenile within a reasonable period of time.
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(l)	If the court continues the juvenile's placement in the custody or placement responsibility of a county department of social services, the provisions of G.S. 7B‑903.1 shall apply to any order entered under this section.
(m)	If the court finds that a proceeding to terminate the parental rights of the juvenile's parents is necessary in order to perfect the primary permanent plan for the juvenile, the director of the department of social services shall file a petition to terminate parental rights within 60 calendar days from the date of the entry of the order unless the court makes written findings regarding why the petition cannot be filed within 60 days. If the court makes findings to the contrary, the court shall specify the time frame in which any needed petition to terminate parental rights shall be filed.
(n)	Notwithstanding other provisions of this Article, the court may waive the holding of hearings required by this section, may require written reports to the court by the agency or person holding custody in lieu of review hearings, or order that review hearings be held less often than every six months if the court finds by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence each of the following:
(1)	The juvenile has resided in the placement for a period of at least one year.
(2)	The placement is stable and continuation of the placement is in the juvenile's best interests.
(3)	Neither the juvenile's best interests nor the rights of any party require that review hearings be held every six months.
(4)	All parties are aware that the matter may be brought before the court for review at any time by the filing of a motion for review or on the court's own motion.
(5)	The court order has designated the relative or other suitable person as the juvenile's permanent custodian or guardian of the person.
The court may not waive or refuse to conduct a review hearing if a party files a motion seeking the review. However, if a guardian of the person has been appointed for the juvenile and the court has also made findings in accordance with subsection (n) of this section that guardianship is the permanent plan for the juvenile, the court shall proceed in accordance with G.S. 7B‑600(b)."

SECTION 18.  Section 3 of this act is effective when it becomes law. The remainder of this act becomes effective October 1, 2015, and applies to actions filed or pending on or after that date.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 1st day of July, 2015.

	s/	 Daniel J. Forest
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 David R. Lewis
	 Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Pat McCrory
	 Governor

Approved 9:00 a.m. this 2nd day of July, 2015