Title 9, Title 9: CHILDREN--JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURTS

9:3-48 Action on complaint for adoption of child not received from approved agency. 12. a. When the child to be adopted has not been received from an approved agency, the prospective parent shall file with the court a complaint for adoption. Upon receipt of the complaint, the cou…

9:3-49. Age 10 or older, hearing appearance, child's wishes 13. If the child sought to be adopted is of the age of 10 years or over, the appearance of the child shall be required at the final adoption hearing, unless waived by the court for good cause shown, and the child's wishe…

9:3-50. Entry of judgment of adoption, effect; inheritance rights 14. a. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1993, c.345). b. The entry of a judgment of adoption shall establish the same relationships, rights, and responsibilities between the child and the adopting parent as if the child …

9:3-51. Judgments of adoption; records. 15. The clerk of the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part shall promptly file all judgments of adoption and shall maintain an alphabetical index of all judgments of adoption entered each year pursuant to P.L.1977, c.367 (C.9:3-37 …

9:3-52. Court records of proceedings. 16. a. All court records of proceedings relating to adoption, including the complaint, judgment, and all petitions, affidavits, testimony, reports, briefs, orders, and other relevant documents, shall be filed under seal by the clerk of the co…

9:3-53. Costs of proceedings 17. The costs of all proceedings pursuant to P.L.1977, c.367 (C.9:3-37 et seq.) shall be borne by the plaintiff, including the costs incurred by an approved agency acting pursuant to an order of the court; except that the approved agency may waive par…

9:3-54.1 Rules, regulations. 19. The Commissioner of Children and Families shall, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act. L.1993, c.345, s.19; amended 2006…

9:3-54.2 Home study, fingerprint and criminal data. 21. a. (1) In addition to meeting the other requirements established by the Department of Children and Families, a home study completed by an approved agency shall include a recommendation regarding the suitability of the home f…

9:3-55. Report of prospective parents. 19. a. A prospective parent who is not a brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandparent, resource family parent, birth father or stepparent of the child to be adopted shall file before the complaint is heard, in accordance with court rules, a det…

9:3-56. Severability If any provision of this act, or any application of any provision, is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other applications of the provision, or other provisions of the act, which reasonably can be given effect despite the invalidity. To this end, …

9:3A-1 Short title. 1. Sections 2 through 15 of this act shall be known and may be cited as the "Department of Children and Families Act." L.2006, c.47, s.1.

9:3A-10 "Office of Children's Services" refers to Department of Children and Families. 10. a. Whenever the term "Office of Children's Services" occurs or any reference is made thereto in any law, regulation, contract, or document, the same shall be deemed to mean or refer to the …

9:3A-11 Transfer of certain DHS staff to department. 11. A proportionate share of the programmatic, administrative, and support staff of the Department of Human Services supporting the functions, powers and duties transferred under this act are transferred to the Department of Ch…

9:3A-12 Act subject to C.52:14D-1 et seq. 12. This act shall be subject to the provisions of the "State Agency Transfer Act," P.L.1971, c.375 (C.52:14D-1 et seq.), except as may otherwise be provided under this act. L.2006, c.47, s.12.

9:3A-13 Inapplicability of act. 13. This act shall not: a. affect the tenure, compensation, and pension rights, if any, of the lawful holder thereof, in any position not specifically abolished herein; and b. alter the term of any member of any board, commission, or public body, n…

9:3A-14 Criminal history record information check for certain employees. 14. The Department of Children and Families shall not employ any individual as a direct care staff member unless the Commissioner of Children and Families has first determined, consistent with the requiremen…

9:3A-15 "Mom2Mom Peer Support Program" helpline. 1. a. The Department of Children and Families shall establish, in coordination with University Behavioral HealthCare of Rutgers, the State University, or another entity, a toll-free "Mom2Mom Peer Support Program" helpline, or a sim…

9:3A-16 List of credentialed resources, behavioral health care providers. 2. University Behavioral HealthCare of Rutgers, the State University, or another entity, shall maintain a list of credentialed resources and behavioral health care providers throughout the State, and shall …

9:3A-17 Annual consultation. 3. In establishing the helpline authorized under the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2013, c.281 (C.9:3A-15) the Commissioner of Children and Families and University Behavioral HealthCare of Rutgers, the State University, or another entity, shall consu…

9:3A-18 Availability of applications for services and supports in multiple languages for persons with developmental disabilities from Department of Children and Families. 1. The Commissioner of Children and Families shall make available in at least the five most common languages …

9:3A-2 Findings, declarations relative to establishing Department of Children and Families. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that: a. In 2003, New Jersey settled a class action lawsuit alleging that the State's child welfare system, which was primarily administered through t…

9:3A-3 Department of Children and Families established. 3. There is established in the Executive Branch of the State Government a principal department that shall be known as the Department of Children and Families. L.2006, c.47, s.3.

9:3A-4 Definitions relative to Department of Children and Families. 4. As used in this act: "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Children and Families. "Department" means the Department of Children and Families established by this act. L.2006, c.47, s.4.

9:3A-5 Commissioner of Children and Families. 5. a. The head and chief administrative officer of the department shall be the Commissioner of Children and Families. The commissioner shall be a person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of his office. The com…

9:3A-6 Designation of final decision maker for contested cases. 6. Notwithstanding any provision of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to the contrary, the commissioner may designate an appropriate officer of the department to serve as the final decision maker in any contested …

9:3A-7.1 Regulations for implementing provisions of act establishing the department. 203. Notwithstanding any provision of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to the contrary, the Commissioner of Children and Families may, with the approval of the Governor, adopt, immediately up…

9:3A-7.2 List of State-owned properties available for use as residential treatment facility for certain juveniles. 1. The Commissioner of Children and Families, in conjunction with the State Treasurer, shall prepare and maintain a list of all available State-owned properties that…

9:3A-7.3 Rules, regulations prescribed by Commissioner of Children and Families concerning out-of-State placement for children. 2. a. The Commissioner of Children and Families, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) and within 180 day…

9:3A-7.4 Standardized admission protocols for transfer of child to psychiatric facility. 2. The Commissioner of Children and Families, after consultation with the State-designated Children's Crisis Intervention Services units and screening centers, the New Jersey Hospital Associa…

9:3A-7.5 DCF rules, regulations. 4. The Commissioner of Children and Families, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt such rules and regulations as the commissioner deems necessary to carry out the provisions of th…

9:3A-8 Necessary investigations; powers. 8. The commissioner may make, or cause to be made, such investigations as he deems necessary in the administration of the Department of Children and Families. For the purpose of any such investigation he may cause to be examined under oath…

9:3A-9 Functions, powers, duties of Office of Children's Services transferred to department. 9. All of the functions, powers, and duties of the Office of Children's Services in the Department of Human Services, and the power to receive, allocate, expend, and authorize the expendi…

9:6-1. Abuse, abandonment, cruelty and neglect of child; what constitutes 9:6-1. Abuse, abandonment, cruelty and neglect of child; what constitutes. Abuse of a child shall consist in any of the following acts: (a) disposing of the custody of a child contrary to law; (b) employing…

9:6-1.1. Treatment of ill children according to religious tenets of church The article to which this act is a supplement shall not be construed to deny the right of a parent, guardian or person having the care, custody and control of any child to treat or provide treatment for an…

9:6-2 "Parent" and "custodian" defined. 9:6-2. "Parent", as used in this chapter, shall include the stepfather and stepmother and the adoptive or resource family parent. "The person having the care, custody and control of any child", as used in this chapter, shall mean any person…

9:6-3. Cruelty and neglect of children; crime of fourth degree; remedies 9:6-3. Any parent, guardian or person having the care, custody or control of any child, who shall abuse, abandon, be cruel to or neglectful of such child, or any person who shall abuse, be cruel to or neglec…

9:6-3.1 Suspension; due process rights; remedial plan. 7. a. A teacher, employee, volunteer or staff person of an institution as defined in section 1 of P.L.1974, c.119 (C.9:6-8.21) who is alleged to have committed an act of child abuse or neglect as defined in R.S. 9:6-1, sectio…

9:6-4. Jurisdiction of complaints 9:6-4. Complaints for violation of the provisions of this chapter may be made to the Superior Court or any municipal court. Whenever any person, who shall be charged with any such offense upon oath before any court or by indictment, shall, in wri…

9:6-5. Complaints, who may prefer Any board of education or police department of any municipality, township, towns and boroughs, its designated officers, members or agents, or any society, association or board incorporated or organized under the laws of this State, having as one …

9:6-6. Disposition of fines, penalties and forfeitures All fines, penalties and forfeitures imposed and collected in any case when any society, association or board incorporated or organized under the laws of this state having as one of its objects the prevention of cruelty to ch…

9:6-7. Agents of societies commissioned as police officers and constables 9:6-7. Any duly organized or incorporated humane society, having for one of its objects the protection of children from cruelty, may offer any agents or officers employed by such society to the mayor or oth…

9:6-8. Warrants to enter place of supposed violation, arrest. 9:6-8. Whenever any person shall, before the Superior Court, or municipal court, make oath that the affiant believes that this chapter has been or is being violated in any place or house, such court shall forthwith iss…

9:6-8.10 Report of abuse. 3. Any person having reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to child abuse, including sexual abuse, or acts of child abuse shall report the same immediately to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency by telephone or otherwise…

9:6-8.100 Function of center, staffing. 2. Each center shall demonstrate a multidisciplinary approach to identifying and responding to child abuse and neglect. The center staff shall include, at a minimum, a pediatrician, a consulting psychiatrist, a psychologist and a social wor…

9:6-8.101. Purpose of center 3. The regional centers shall: evaluate and treat child abuse and neglect; be resources for the region and develop additional resources within the region; provide training and consultative services; and be available for emergency phone consultation 24…

9:6-8.102 Services provided by staff of center. 4. Services provided by the center's staff shall include, but not be limited to: a. Providing psychological and medical evaluation and treatment of the child, counseling for family members and substance use disorder assessment and m…