34 (1) In this section, “residential placement” does not include, (a) a placement made under the Young Offenders Act (Canada), under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Canada) or under Part IV (Youth Justice), (b) commitment to a secure treatment program under Part VI (Extraordinary Measures), or (c) a placement with a person who is neither a service provider nor a foster parent.  R.S.O. 1990, c. C.11, s. 34 (1); 2006, c. 19, Sched. D, s. 2 (4). Residential placement advisory committees (2) The Minister may establish residential placement advisory committees each consisting of, (a) persons engaged in providing services; (b) other persons who have demonstrated an informed concern for the welfare of children; (c) one representative of the Ministry; and (d) if the Minister wishes, another person or persons, including a representative of a band or native community, whom the Minister considers appropriate, and shall specify the territorial jurisdiction of each advisory committee.  R.S.O. 1990, c. C.11, s. 34 (2). Payments, etc., to members (3) The Minister may pay allowances and reasonable travelling expenses to any or all of the members of an advisory committee, and may authorize an advisory committee to hire support staff.  R.S.O. 1990, c. C.11, s. 34 (3). Duties of committee (4) An advisory committee has a duty to advise, inform and assist parents, children and service providers with respect to the availability and appropriateness of residential services and alternatives to residential services, to conduct reviews under this section, and to name persons for the purpose of subsection 29 (9) (contact with child under temporary care agreement), and has such further duties as are prescribed.  R.S.O. 1990, c. C.11, s. 34 (4). Designation by Director (5) A Director may designate a building, group of buildings or part of a building in which residential services can be provided to ten or more children at a time as an institution for the purposes of this section.  R.S.O. 1990, c. C.11, s. 34 (5). Mandatory review by committee (6) An advisory committee shall review, (a) every residential placement in an institution of a child who resides within the advisory committee’s jurisdiction, if the placement is intended to last or actually lasts ninety days or more, (i) as soon as possible, but in any event within forty-five days of the day on which the child is placed in the institution, (ii) unless the placement is reviewed under subclause (i), within twelve months of the establishment of the committee or within such longer period as the Minister allows, and (iii) while the placement continues, at least once during each nine month period succeeding the review under subclause (i) or (ii); (b) every residential placement of a child twelve years of age or older who objects to the placement and resides within the advisory committee’s jurisdiction, (i) within the week immediately following the day that is fourteen days after the child is placed, and (ii) while the placement continues, at least once during each nine month period succeeding the review under subclause (i); and (c) an existing or proposed residential placement of a child that the Minister refers to the advisory committee, within thirty days of the referral.  R.S.O. 1990, c. C.11, s. 34 (6). Discretionary review (7) An advisory committee may at any time review or re-review, on a person’s request or on its own initiative, an existing or proposed residential placement of a child who resides within the advisory committee’s jurisdiction.  R.S.O. 1990, c. C.11, s. 34 (7). Review to be informal, etc. (8) An advisory committee shall conduct a review under this section in an informal manner, in the absence of the public, and in the course of the review may, (a) interview the child, members of the child’s family and any representatives of the child and family; (b) interview persons engaged in providing services and other persons who may have an interest in the matter or may have information that would assist the advisory committee; (c) examine documents and reports that are presented to the committee; and (d) examine records of the child and of members of the child’s family, as defined in Part VIII (Confidentiality of and Access to Records), that are disclosed to the committee in accordance with that Part.  R.S.O. 1990, c. C.11, s. 34 (8). Service providers to assist advisory committee (9) At an advisory committee’s request, a service provider shall assist and co-operate with the advisory committee in its conduct of a review.  R.S.O. 1990, c. C.11, s. 34 (9). What committee shall consider (10) In conducting a review, an advisory committee shall, (a) determine whether the child has a special need; (b) consider what programs are available for the child in the residential placement or proposed residential placement, and whether a program available to the child is likely to benefit the child; (c) consider whether the residential placement or proposed residential placement is appropriate for the child in the circumstances; (d) if it considers that a less restrictive alternative to the placement would be more appropriate for the child in the circumstances, specify that alternative; (e) consider the importance of continuity in the child’s care and the possible effect on the child of disruption of that continuity; and (f) where the child is an Indian or native person, consider the importance, in recognition of the uniqueness of Indian and native culture, heritage and traditions, of preserving the child’s cultural identity.  R.S.O. 1990, c. C.11, s. 34 (10). Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 2006, c. 19, Sched. D, s. 2 (4) - 22/06/2006