Title LI, Unified Juvenile Code

In addition to the purposes set forth in KRS 600.010, this chapter shall be interpreted to effectuate the following express legislative purposes regarding the treatment of dependent, neglected and abused children. Children have certain fundamental rights which must be protected a…

The definitions in KRS Chapter 600 shall apply to this chapter. In addition, as used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) "Case permanency plan" means a document identifying decisions made by the cabinet, for both the biological family and the child, concer…

(1) Evidence of the following circumstances if relevant shall be considered by the court in all proceedings conducted pursuant to KRS Chapter 620 in which the court is required to render decisions in the best interest of the child: (a) Mental illness as defined in KRS 202A.011 or…

A finding of jurisdiction under this chapter shall not necessarily preclude a finding of jurisdiction under KRS Chapters 625, 630, or 635; however, jurisdiction under this chapter shall take precedence. No child shall be released from the jurisdiction of the court under this chap…

permanent placement cases. The District Court has jurisdiction, concurrent with that of the Circuit Court, to determine matters of child custody and visitation in cases that come before the District Court where the need for a permanent placement and custody order is established a…

-- Reporting requirements. (1) In order to provide the most effective treatment for children who are victims of human trafficking, as defined in KRS 529.010, and to ensure that law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies have the resources and tools necessary to combat human traff…

genital mutilation -- Husband-wife and professional-client/patient privileges not grounds for refusal to report -- Statewide reporting system -- Exceptions -- Penalties. (1) Any person who knows or has reasonable cause to believe that a child is dependent, neglected, or abused sh…

genital mutilation -- Monthly report by cabinet detailing child protective services reports received. (1) By November 1 of each year, beginning in 2021, the cabinet shall submit to the Legislative Research Commission a comprehensive report that does not identify individuals, deta…

personnel -- Procedures -- Military status of parent or legal guardian -- Multidisciplinary teams. (1) (a) Upon receipt of a report alleging abuse or neglect of a child as defined in KRS 600.020 by a parent, guardian, fictive kin, person in a position of authority, person in a po…

(1) The secretaries of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet are authorized to make state grants and other fund allocations to assist nonprofit corporations in the establishment and operation of regional children's advocacy centers. …

home during child protective services investigation under agreed upon safety plan -- Cabinet to report on safety plans. (1) During a child protective services investigation conducted pursuant to the authority in this chapter where there is a safety plan negotiated and agreed upon…

Confidentiality of reports -- Exceptions -- Parent's access to records -- Sharing of information by children's advocacy centers -- Confidentiality of interview with child -- Exceptions -- Confidentiality of identifying information regarding reporting individual -- Internal review…

registry -- Administrative regulations. (1) The cabinet may charge a fee of ten dollars ($10) per background check of the cabinet's child abuse and neglect records when those services are requested by a person for professional, trade, or commercial purposes or for personal use. (…

community service programs for families in crisis when child protection investigation does not result in out-of-home placement of a child. During a child protection investigation that does not result in an out-of-home placement due to abuse of a child, the Cabinet for Health and …

Members -- Meetings -- Duties -- Responsibilities -- Information required to be provided to members -- Report and response -- Annual reports -- Confidentiality -- Destruction of information following conclusion of panel's examination -- Application of open records and open meetin…

(1) The court for the county where the child ordinarily resides or will reside or the county where the child is present may issue an ex parte emergency custody order when it appears to the court that removal is in the best interest of the child and that there are reasonable groun…

Contents of summons. (1) A dependency, neglect, or abuse action may be commenced by the filing of a petition by any interested person in the juvenile session of the District Court. (2) After a petition has been filed, the clerk of the court shall issue, and the sheriff or other p…

`620.072 Unannounced home visits concerning abused or neglected child -- Conditions requiring -- Request for assistance in gaining access to child. (1) If the cabinet's initial determination as to the risk of harm to and immediate safety of an alleged abused or neglected child as…

(1) Unless waived by the child and his parent or other person exercising custodial control or supervision, a temporary removal hearing shall be held: (a) Within seventy-two (72) hours, excluding weekends and holidays, of the time when an emergency custody order is issued or when …

(1) If, after completion of the temporary removal hearing, the court finds there are reasonable grounds to believe the child is dependent, neglected or abused, the court shall: (a) Issue an order for temporary removal and shall grant temporary custody to the cabinet or other appr…

A nonoffender, as defined in KRS 600.020, shall not be placed in secure or nonsecure detention.

volunteer -- Full adjudicatory hearing -- Notice of proceedings -- Separate counsel to advise cabinet employee. (1) If the court determines, as a result of a temporary removal hearing, that further proceedings are required, the court shall advise the child and his parent or other…

Any person aggrieved by the issuance of a temporary removal order may file a petition in Circuit Court for immediate entitlement to custody and a hearing shall be expeditiously held according to the Rules of Civil Procedure. During the pendency of the petition for immediate entit…

In cases where criminal charges arising out of the same transaction or occurrence are filed against an adult alleged to be the perpetrator of child abuse or neglect, such charges shall be tried separately from the adjudicatory hearing held pursuant to this chapter.

for purposes of impeachment. Testimony offered by an alleged responsible parent or person exercising custodial control or supervision in an adjudication of a petition under this chapter for dependency, abuse, or neglect shall not be admissible in any criminal proceeding for charg…

(1) In any proceeding under this chapter, when the court is petitioned to remove or continue the removal of a child from the custody of his parent or other person exercising custodial control or supervision, the court shall first consider whether the child may be reasonably prote…

(1) In determining the disposition of all cases brought on behalf of dependent, neglected, or abused children, the juvenile session of the District Court or the family division of the Circuit Court, in the best interests of the child, shall have but shall not be limited to the fo…

kin caregiver of an abused, neglected, or dependent child -- Application timeframe for relative or fictive kin caregiver to become a relative or fictive kin foster parent. (1) The cabinet shall develop custodial, permanency, and service options, including but not limited to monet…

(1) Within sixty (60) days of the commitment date of a child due to abuse, neglect, or dependency, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall provide the court with jurisdiction an assessment of the child to determine: (a) The child's current and historical educational func…

remove a child of whom the cabinet has custody from school grounds. (1) If, as a result of dependency, neglect, or abuse, custody of a child is granted to the cabinet through an emergency, temporary, or permanent court order, the cabinet shall notify the principal or any assistan…

Following an order that a child shall be removed from his home, the cabinet shall establish such terms and conditions of visitation with the child after consultation with the parent or other person exercising custodial control or supervision of the child. If the parent or other p…

Any interested party aggrieved by a proceeding under KRS 610.010(2)(d) including the parent, child, guardian ad litem, the cabinet, and the county attorney may appeal from the juvenile court to the Circuit Court as a matter of right in the manner provided in the Kentucky Rules of…

Upon attaining majority, a person who was the subject of an action under this chapter may make a motion for the sealing of records relating to a petition filed under this chapter. In its discretion, the court may order the record unsealed for good cause shown.

(1) The cabinet may accept custody of a child who is voluntarily committed to the cabinet by the child's parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody. However, the cabinet shall refuse to accept any child on a voluntary commitment unless adequate facilities, funds, and …

(1) The cabinet may promulgate administrative regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter. The cabinet may also promulgate administrative regulations pursuant to the requirements of Public Law 96-272 as to the maximum number of children who at any time during a fiscal…

(1) There shall be established within each judicial district a citizen foster care review board to be appointed by the Chief District Judge or family court judge. The Chief District Judge or family court judge may authorize the creation of additional local citizen foster care rev…

(1) Secretarial and support services for each local citizen foster care review board may be provided by the District Court, or circuit clerk, or both, as ordered by the Chief District Judges or family court judges. (2) Local citizen foster care review boards may receive state and…

(1) Training shall be established, approved, and provided by the state citizen foster care review board and its staff as provided by KRS 620.320. (2) During the training session, each local citizen foster care review board member shall promise by oath given by the Chief District …

Review Board Program. (1) The clerk of the court shall forward to the Administrative Office of the Courts Citizen Foster Care Review Board Program a copy of each temporary custody order and commitment order or provide electronic notification in the manner prescribed by the Admini…

(1) For each child placed in the custody of the cabinet by an order of commitment, the cabinet shall file a case permanency plan for the child with the court and send a copy to the Administrative Office of the Courts Citizen Foster Care Review Board Program as soon as the plan is…

The cabinet shall file for each child a case progress report at least once every six (6) months with the court and the Administrative Office of the Courts Citizen Foster Care Review Board Program. The first case progress report after the child is placed in the custody of the cabi…

(1) Each local citizen foster care review board shall have access to all information and records of the cabinet pertinent to the parents or person exercising custodial control or supervision of the child assigned to the local board for review. Information and records shall includ…

Local citizen foster care review board members who have a conflict of interest shall not participate in such review.

forums. (1) Subject to the provisions of KRS 620.230, the local citizen foster care review board shall review the case of each child placed in the custody of the cabinet by an order of temporary custody or commitment by the court in the county or counties which the local board se…

Each local citizen foster care review board may request in writing employees of the cabinet or other agencies or organizations, on five (5) working days' notice, to appear at local board meetings when necessary to determine the progress made in placing the child in a permanent ho…

moved. The local citizen foster care review board shall submit to the court within fourteen (14) days of the six (6) month review its findings and recommendations. The findings and recommendations for each child under review shall include but need not be limited to: (1) Whether t…

(1) There is hereby established a State Citizen Foster Care Review Board. The State Citizen Foster Care Review Board shall consist of all chairmen of the local foster care review boards. (2) The State Citizen Foster Care Review Board shall biennially elect a chairman and vice cha…

The duties of the State Citizen Foster Care Review Board shall be to: (1) Establish, approve, and provide training programs for local citizen foster care review board members; (2) Review and coordinate the activities of local citizen foster care review boards; (3) Establish repor…

(1) Secretarial and support services for the State Citizen Foster Care Review Board may be provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts. (2) The State Citizen Foster Care Review Board may receive state and federal funds to insure total or partial funding of the board's act…

Each local citizen foster care review board shall forward annually to the State Citizen Foster Care Review Board a report and any recommendations regarding: (1) The policies and practices of the cabinet, the court, and other child-caring facilities and child-placing agencies whic…