Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4005-A, as amended by PL 1997, c. 343, §1, is further amended to read:

§4005-A. Foster parent's right to standing and intervenor status

in child protection proceedings

1. Definition. As used in this section, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings.

A. "Foster parent" means a person who has had a child in that person's home for at least 120 60 days and who has received a license for a family foster home as defined in section 8101, subsection 3, or who is a relative.

2. Status. A foster parent may petition for has standing and intervenor status in any child protection proceeding under this chapter regarding a foster child that lives or has lived in the foster parent's home. The standing and intervenor status is limited to that proceeding unless otherwise ordered by the court.

3. Criteria. The court shall make a determination whether to grant standing based on the strength and duration of the relationship between the foster parents and the child and in the best interests of the child.

SUMMARY

Currently, a court may grant intervenor status to a foster parent if the child has been in the foster parent's home for at least 120 days. This bill gives intervenor status to a foster parent who has had the child who is the subject of a child protection proceeding in the foster parent's home for at least 60 days.