2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 19 - CHILDREN'S CODE (§§ 19-1-101 — 19-7-315) › Article 3 - DEPENDENCY AND NEGLECT (§§ 19-3-100.5 — 19-3-905) › Part 4 - TEMPORARY CUSTODY AND SHELTER (§§ 19-3-401 — 19-3-407) › Section 19-3-403 - Temporary custody - hearing - time limits - restriction - caregiver rights - rules

(1)
A child who must be taken from his or her home but who does not require physical restriction may be given temporary care with his or her grandparent, upon the grandparent's request, if in the best interests of the child, in a shelter facility designated by the court or with the county department of human or social services and must not be placed in detention. If an appropriate shelter facility does not exist, the child may be placed in a staff-secure temporary holding facility authorized by the court.
(2)
When a child is placed in a shelter facility or a temporary holding facility not operated by the department of human services designated by the court, the law enforcement official taking the child into custody shall promptly so notify the court. He shall also notify a parent or legal guardian or, if a parent or legal guardian cannot be located within the county, the person with whom the child has been residing and inform him of the right to a prompt hearing to determine whether the child is to be detained further. The court shall hold such hearing within forty-eight hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. A child requiring physical restraint may be placed in a juvenile detention facility operated by or under contract with the department of human services for a period of not more than twenty-four hours, including Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.
(3)
Repealed.
(3.5)
When temporary custody is placed with the county department of human or social services pursuant to this section or section
19-3-405
or when an emergency protection order is entered pursuant to section
19-3-405
, the court shall hold a hearing within seventy-two hours after placement, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and court holidays, to determine further custody of the child or whether the emergency protection order should continue. Such a hearing need not be held if a hearing has previously been held pursuant to subsection (2) of this section.
(3.6)
(a)
(I)
The office of the state court administrator shall prepare a form affidavit and advisement. The form affidavit and advisement shall be available at each judicial district to each parent attending a temporary custody hearing. The form affidavit and advisement shall:
(A)
Advise the parent that he or she is required to provide the requested information fully and completely under penalties of perjury and contempt of court;
(B)
Require the parent to list the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of, and any comments concerning the appropriateness of the child's potential placement with, every grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, half-sibling, and first cousin of the child;
(C)
Provide a section in which the parent may list the names, addresses, telephone numbers of, and any comments concerning the appropriateness of the child's potential placement with, other relatives and kin who have a significant relationship with the child;
(D)
Advise the parent that failure to identify these relatives in a timely manner may result in the child being placed permanently outside of the home of the child's relatives, if the child cannot be safely returned to the home of the child's parents;
(E)
Advise the parent that the child may risk life-long damage to his or her emotional well-being if the child becomes attached to one caregiver and is later removed from the caregiver's home;
(F)
Require the parent to acknowledge that he or she understands the advisements contained in the form; and
(G)
Require the parent to sign and date the form.
(II)
At the hearing, information may be supplied to the court in the form of written or oral reports, affidavits, testimony, or other relevant information that the court may wish to receive. Any information having probative value may be received by the court, regardless of its admissibility under the Colorado rules of evidence.
(III)
The court shall advise the parents that the child or youth may be placed with a relative or kin. The court shall order the parents to complete the form affidavit and advisement described in subsection (3.6)(a)(I) of this section no later than seven days after the hearing date or prior to the next hearing on the matter, whichever occurs first. The original completed relative affidavit must be filed with the court and served on all parties no later than seven days after the hearing date. The court shall ask the parent if there are any changes to the information on the relative or kin affidavit at hearings held pursuant to sections 19-3-507 and 19-3-702, and if the parent has not completed the relative or kin affidavit, the court shall ask the parent, on the record, for names and contact information for relatives and kin whom the parent would like considered for engagement in the case. Each parent, the guardian ad litem or counsel for youth, and counsel for each parent, if any, must also receive copies of the completed form affidavit. The court may advise each parent of the penalties associated with perjury and contempt of court, if necessary. Each parent may suggest an adult relative or relatives, or kin, whom the parent believes to be the most appropriate caretaker or caretakers for the child or youth. If appropriate, the child or youth must be consulted regarding suggested relative or kin caretakers. The court shall order each parent to notify every relative or kin who may be an appropriate relative or kin caretaker for the child or youth that failure to come forward in a timely manner may result in the child or youth being placed permanently outside of the home of the relatives or kin of the child or youth if the child or youth is not able to return to the child's or youth's home. In addition, the court shall advise each parent that failure to identify these relatives or kin in a timely manner may result in the child or youth being placed permanently outside of the home of the relatives or kin of the child or youth.
(IV)
The court shall order a county department of human or social services to exercise due diligence to contact all grandparents and other adult relatives and identified kin within thirty days after the removal of the child or youth and to inform them about placement possibilities for the child or youth, unless the court determines there is good cause not to contact or good cause to delay contacting the child's or youth's relatives and kin, including, but not limited to, family or domestic violence.
(A)
A county department of human or social services shall provide notice to the relatives and identified kin that the child or youth has been removed from the child's or youth's home, an explanation of the various options to participate in the child's or youth's care or placement and options that may be available to support the child's or youth's family, and options that may be lost by failing to respond.
(B)
The notice must include information about providing care for the child or youth while the family receives reunification services, with the goal of returning the child or youth to the parent or legal guardian; the relative's right to intervene in the proceedings with or without an attorney following adjudication; and additional services and supports that are available in out-of-home placements. The notice must also include information regarding the state's entitlement plans, including but not limited to child care assistance, supplemental nutritional assistance programs, the relative guardianship assistance program, child-only eligibility for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), and adoption assistance, as well as other options for contact. Information about family foster care certification, including how to request a variance from certification standards that do not present a safety or health risk to the child or youth in the home and supports that are available for relatives and kin and children or youth and what background checks are required, as well as how relatives or kin may request the court review decisions to deny placement based on background checks and why certification as a kinship foster home may be denied, must also be provided in the notice.
(C)
The state department of human services, in consultation with counties, the office of the child's representative, and the office of respondent parents' counsel, along with other interested stakeholders, shall develop the written notice and promulgate rules for the implementation of this section.
(D)
The county department of human or social services shall request each such relative and identified kin who is interested in becoming a placement option for the child or youth to come forward at the earliest possible time to seek placement of the child or youth in the relative's or kin's home and to cooperate with the county department of human or social services to expedite procedures pertaining to the placement of the child or youth in the relative's or kin's home if the child or youth cannot be safely returned to the child's or youth's parents' home.
(V)
The court shall give preference to giving temporary placement to a child's or youth's relative or kin who is capable, willing, and available for care, giving primary consideration to the child's or youth's mental, physical, and emotional needs, including the child's or youth's preference regarding placement. The court shall also find that there is no suitable birth or adoptive parent available, with due diligence having been exercised in attempting to locate any such birth or adoptive parent. A parent's objection to placement with a particular relative or kin is not alone sufficient to show that the proposed placement would hinder reunification. The court may place or continue custody with the county department of human or social services if the court is satisfied from the information presented at the hearing that such custody is appropriate and in the child's or youth's best interests, or the court may enter such other orders as are appropriate. The court may authorize the county department of human or social services with custody of a child or youth to place the child or youth with a relative or kin without the necessity for a hearing if a county department of human or social services locates A capable and willing relative or kin who is available to care for the child or youth and the guardian ad litem of the child or youth concurs that the placement is in the best interests of the child or youth. If the county department of human or social services places a child or youth with a relative or kin without a hearing pursuant to this subsection (3.6)(a)(V), the county department of human or social services shall fully inform the court of the details concerning the child's or youth's placement on the record at the next hearing. If the court enters an order removing a child or youth from the home or continuing a child or youth in a placement out of the home, the court shall make the findings required pursuant to section
19-1-115(6)
, if such findings are warranted by the evidence.
(VI)
The responsible county department of human or social services or other social services agency shall exercise due diligence to contact and engage relatives and kin who respond to the notice required pursuant to subsection (3.6)(a)(IV) of this section. Upon a request by a relative or kin or party to the proceedings, the court may conduct a review of the applicable agency's due diligence to contact and engage relatives and kin pursuant to subsection (3.6)(a)(IV) of this section. If the court finds that the applicable agency did not exercise due diligence to contact and engage relatives and kin who responded to the notice, the court may order the applicable agency to exercise due diligence by engaging the relatives and kin in the following activities related to the care and planning for a child or youth, determined in consultation with the other parties:
(A)
Participating in case planning for the child or youth and the child's or youth's parent, including identifying services and resources that meet the individualized needs of the child or youth and the child's or youth's parent. A relative's or kin's participation in case planning may be in person, via phone, or by electronic means.
(B)
Identifying the strengths and needs of the child or youth and the child's or youth's parent;
(C)
Asking the responsible county department of human or social services, or other social services agency, to consider the relative or kin for placement with the child or youth pursuant to subsection (3.6)(a)(IV)(D) of this section;
(D)
Acting as a support person for the child or youth, the child's or youth's parent, and the child's or youth's current caregiver, including collaborating with foster parents to support a healthy transition for a child or youth to family time or placement with a relative, when appropriate;
(E)
Supervising family time when authorized pursuant to section 19-3-217;
(F)
Providing respite care for the child or youth and having family vacation time with the child or youth;
(G)
Providing transportation;
(H)
Suggesting other relatives or kin who may be able to participate in the case plan or whom the county department of human or social services, or other social services agency, may consider for the placement of the child or youth. The county department of human or social services, or other social services agency, shall send a notice to each relative or kin identified by other relatives or kin, unless a relative or kin received the notice earlier in the case or was ruled out as a resource or placement by the court.
(I)
Helping maintain the child's or youth's familiar and regular activities, as well as contact with the child's or youth's friends, relatives, and kin, including providing supervision of the child or youth at family gatherings and events; and
(J)
Participating in the child's or youth's family and permanency team if the child or youth is placed in a qualified residential treatment program.
(b)
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (3.6) to the contrary, when the child is part of a sibling group and the sibling group is being placed out of the home, if the county department locates an appropriate, capable, willing, and available joint placement for all of the children in the sibling group, the court shall presume that placement of the entire sibling group in the joint placement is in the best interests of the children. Such presumption may be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence that placement of the entire sibling group in the joint placement is not in the best interests of a child or of the children.
(c)
A relative or kin caregiver has the right to:
(I)
Be treated with dignity and respect and to be considered as a team member who is making important contributions to the objectives of the child welfare system, including the reunification of the child or youth with the child's or youth's parents whenever safely possible;
(II)
Receive training and support from the state department of human services or a county department of human or social services to improve the caregiver's skills in providing daily care and meeting the special needs or disability-related needs of a child or youth in the caregiver's care;
(III)
Be informed by the applicable child placement agency or county department of human or social services about how to reach after-hours contacts; and
(IV)
Be informed about available financial assistance and the financial consequences of not pursuing certification as a foster home, including ineligibility for the state's relative guardianship assistance program.
(3.7)
A child who is alleged to be a runaway from a state other than Colorado may be held in a shelter care or other appropriate facility for up to seven days, during which time arrangements shall be made for returning the child to the state of his residence.
(4)
(a)
[Effective until 7/1/2024]
If it appears that any child being held in a shelter facility may have an intellectual and developmental disability, as provided in article
10.5
of title
27
, the court shall refer the child to the nearest case management agency, as defined in section 25.5-6-1702 , for an eligibility determination. If it appears that any child being held in a shelter facility pursuant to this article 3 may have a mental health disorder, as provided in section 27-65-106, the intake personnel or other appropriate personnel shall contact a mental health professional to do a mental health disorder prescreening on the child. The court must be notified of the contact and may take appropriate action. If a mental health disorder prescreening is requested, it must be conducted in an appropriate place accessible to the child and the mental health professional. A request for a mental health disorder prescreening must not extend the time within which a hearing is to be held pursuant to this section. If a hearing has been set but has not yet occurred, the mental health disorder prescreening must be conducted prior to the hearing; except that the prescreening must not extend the time within which a hearing is to be held pursuant to this section.
(a)
[Effective 7/1/2024]
If it appears that any child being held in a shelter facility may have an intellectual and developmental disability, as provided in article
10.5
of title
27
, the court shall refer the child to the nearest community-centered board for an eligibility determination. If it appears that any child being held in a shelter facility pursuant to the provisions of this article 3 may have a mental health disorder, as provided in section 27-65-106, the intake personnel or other appropriate personnel shall contact a mental health professional to do a mental health disorder prescreening on the child. The court shall be notified of the contact and may take appropriate action. If a mental health disorder prescreening is requested, it must be conducted in an appropriate place accessible to the child and the mental health professional. A request for a mental health disorder prescreening must not extend the time within which a hearing is to be held pursuant to this section. If a hearing has been set but has not yet occurred, the mental health disorder prescreening must be conducted prior to the hearing; except that the prescreening must not extend the time within which a hearing is to be held pursuant to this section.
(b)
If a child has been ordered detained pending an adjudication, disposition, or other court hearing and the child subsequently appears to have a mental health disorder, as provided in section 27-65-106, the intake personnel or other appropriate personnel shall contact the court with a recommendation for a mental health disorder prescreening. A mental health disorder prescreening must be conducted at any appropriate place accessible to the child and the mental health professional within twenty-four hours after the request, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.
(c)
If the mental health professional finds, as a result of the prescreening, that the child may have a mental health disorder, the mental health professional shall recommend to the court that the child be evaluated pursuant to section 27-65-106, and the court shall proceed as provided in section
19-3-506
.
(d)
Nothing in this subsection (4) precludes the use of procedures for an emergency mental health hold pursuant to section 27-65-106.
(5)
The court may, at any time, order the release of any child being held pursuant to section
19-3-401
from shelter care or a temporary holding facility not operated by the department of human services without holding a hearing, either without restriction or upon written promise of the parent, guardian, or legal custodian to bring the child to the court at a time set or to be set by the court.
(6)
(a)
After making a reasonable effort to obtain the consent of the parent, guardian, or other legal custodian, the court may authorize or consent to medical, surgical, or dental treatment or care for a child placed in shelter care or a temporary holding facility not operated by the department of human services.
(b)
When the court finds that emergency medical, surgical, or dental treatment is required for a child placed in shelter care or a temporary holding facility not operated by the department of human services, it may authorize such treatment or care if the parents, guardian, or legal custodian are not immediately available.
(7)
The court may also issue temporary orders for legal custody as provided in section
19-1-115
. The court shall enter family time orders consistent with section
19-3-217
.
(8)
Any law enforcement officer, employee of the division in the department of human services responsible for youth services, or other person acting under the direction of the court who in good faith transports any child, releases any child from custody pursuant to a written policy of a court, releases any child from custody pursuant to any written criteria established pursuant to this title, or detains any child pursuant to court order or written policy or criteria established pursuant to this title shall be immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise result by reason of such act. For purposes of any proceedings, civil or criminal, the good faith of any such person shall be presumed.
(9)
If the sole issue preventing an emergency placement of a child with a relative or kin is a lack of resources, the county department shall use reasonable efforts to assist the relative or kin with obtaining the necessary items within existing available resources.
Amended by 2023 Ch. 367,§ 3, eff. 8/7/2023.
Amended by 2023 Ch. 284,§ 15, eff. 6/1/2023.
Amended by 2022 Ch. 92, § 26, eff. 1/9/2023.
Amended by 2022 Ch. 451,§ 37, eff. 8/10/2022.
Amended by 2022 Ch. 451,§ 36, eff. 8/10/2022.
Amended by 2021 Ch. 83, § 10, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by 2021 Ch. 481, § 2, eff. 9/1/2021.
Amended by 2018 Ch. 38, § 56, eff. 8/8/2018.
Amended by 2017 Ch. 263, § 162, eff. 5/25/2017.
L. 87: Entire title R&RE, p. 776, § 1, effective October 1. L. 89: (1), (2), (3)(a), (5), and (6) amended, p. 928, § 5, effective April 23. L. 90: (2), (4)(a), (5), and (6) amended, (3) repealed, and (3.5) to (3.7) added, pp. 1035, 1037, §§ 2, 6, effective April 3; (8) added, p. 1019, § 6, effective April 20; (3.5) amended, p. 1033, § 24, effective July 1. L. 91: (1) and (3.6) amended, p. 264, § 8, effective May 31. L. 93: (3.6) amended, p. 2016, § 6, effective July 1. L. 94: (2), (5), (6), and (8) amended, p. 2683, § 201, effective July 1. L. 97: (3.5) amended, p. 518, § 6, effective July 1. L. 2000: (3.6) amended, p. 1123, § 1, effective August 2. L. 2001: (3.6) amended, p. 846, § 8, effective June 1. L. 2003: (3.6) amended, p. 2623, § 3, effective June 5. L. 2005: (3.6) amended, p. 676, § 2, effective July 1. L. 2006: (4) amended, p. 1401, § 57, effective August 7. L. 2009: (3.6)(a)(III) and (3.6)(a)(IV) amended, (SB 09-245), ch. 2423, p. 2423, § 1, effective June 4. L. 2010: (4) amended, (SB 10-175), ch. 188, p. 791, § 44, effective April 29. L. 2017: (4) amended, (SB 17-242), ch. 1314, p. 1314, § 162, effective May 25. L. 2018: (1), (3.5), and (3.6)(a)(V) amended, (SB 18 -092), ch. 420, p. 420, § 56, effective August 8. L. 2021: (7) amended, (HB 21-1101), ch. 3427, p. 3427, § 2, effective September 1; (4)(a) amended, (HB 21 -1187), ch. 327, p. 327, § 10, effective 7/1/2024.
This section was contained in a title that was repealed and reenacted in 1987. Provisions of this section, as it existed in 1987, are similar to those contained in
19-2-103
as said section existed in 1986, the year prior to the repeal and reenactment of this title.
2023 Ch. 367, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).
For the legislative declaration contained in the 2001 act amending subsection (3.6), see section 1 of chapter 241, Session Laws of Colorado 2001. For the legislative declaration contained in the 2005 act amending subsection (3.6), see section 1 of chapter 194, Session Laws of Colorado 2005. For the legislative declaration in SB 17-242, see section 1 of chapter 263, Session Laws of Colorado 2017. For the legislative declaration in SB 18-092, see section 1 of chapter 38, Session Laws of Colorado 2018.