2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 15 - COURTS (§§ 15-1-1 — 15-25-3) › Chapter 11 - JUVENILE COURTS (§§ 15-11-1 — 15-11-747) › Article 3 - DEPENDENCY PROCEEDINGS (§§ 15-11-100 — 15-11-244) › Part 3 - PROTECTIVE CUSTODY (§§ 15-11-130 — 15-11-135) › Section 15-11-133.1 - Temporary alternatives to foster care; orders; minimal preliminary assessments; preliminary protective hearing; time for hearings

(a)
Temporary alternatives to foster care may be ordered by the court ex parte, prior to a preliminary protective hearing, or may be ordered following a preliminary protective hearing. An order for temporary alternatives to foster care may include one or more of the following:
(1)
A temporary order authorizing or continuing any voluntary agreement between the parent, guardian, or legal custodian and DFCS;
(2)
Where an order for temporary alternatives to foster care is entered, a temporary protective order imposing conditions or limitations on the conduct of the parent, guardian, or legal custodian, including requiring the individual to:
(A)
Prohibit access to the child by an individual;
(B)
Comply with any existing visitation agreement associated with the voluntary placement;
(C)
Abstain from offensive conduct against a child or his or her parent, guardian, or legal custodian;
(D)
Give proper attention to the care of his or her home;
(E)
Cooperate in good faith with DFCS;
(F)
Refrain from acts of commission or omission that may render a home an improper place for a child; or
(G)
Ensure that a child attends school pursuant to any valid law relating to compulsory attendance;
(3)
An order that the DFCS investigate and report to the court whether removal is necessary; or
(4)
An order that the DFCS provide services designed to allow the child to remain safely in the child's home.
(b)
An order pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Code section authorizing or continuing any voluntary agreement between the parent, guardian, or legal custodian and DFCS for the child to be cared for by a relative or fictive kin shall be based upon a finding by the court that continuation of the child in his or her home would be contrary to his or her welfare. Such findings shall be made on an individualized basis and shall be documented in the court's written order.
(c)
When entering an order pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Code section authorizing or continuing any voluntary agreement between the parent, guardian, or legal custodian and DFCS for the child to be cared for by a relative or fictive kin, the court shall order a preliminary assessment of the person who is to provide care for the child by a probation officer, or such other individual or agency as the court may designate, which shall include, at a minimum:
(1)
A walk-through of such person's residence to identify safety hazards;
(2)
An in-state criminal record check, pursuant to subsection (a) or (c) of Code Section
35-3-34
, of such person and all other adults living in such person's residence;
(3)
A search of the Georgia Sex Offender Registry for the name of such person and all other adults living in such person's residence; and
(4)
A search of data provided electronically to the public by the Department of Community Supervision and the Department of Corrections for information concerning such person and all adults living in such person's residence.
Such preliminary assessment shall be completed no later than 72 hours after the time such order is entered except that if such order is entered on a weekend, such preliminary assessment may be completed no later than five days after the order is entered.
(d)
Upon issuance of an order for a temporary alternative to foster care, a preliminary protective hearing shall be completed as provided in Code Section
15-11-145
.
(e)
Temporary alternatives to foster care ordered by the court in accordance with this Code section shall remain in effect until modified by the court or until the court has held the preliminary protective hearing. If probable cause exists, DFCS shall file a petition alleging dependency in accordance with subsection (b) of Code Section
15-11-151
following the preliminary protective hearing. The court may continue to impose the temporary alternatives to foster care after the preliminary protective hearing in accordance with subsection (b) of Code Section
15-11-146
.
Amended by 2021 Ga. Laws 138,§ 3, eff. 1/1/2022.
Amended by 2020 Ga. Laws 410,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2020.
Added by 2019 Ga. Laws 28,§ 4, eff. 4/18/2019.