2023 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 19 - CHILDREN'S CODE (§§ 19-1-101 — 19-7-315)
Article 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 19-1-101 — 19-1-401)
Part 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 19-1-101 — 19-1-131)
Section 19-1-115 - Legal custody - guardianship - placement out of the home - petition for review for need of placement - rules

• (1)
  • (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, in awarding legal custody of a child pursuant to this title 19, the court may, if in the best interests of the child, give preference to the child's grandparent who is appropriate, capable, willing, and available to care for the child, if the court finds that there is no suitable natural or adoptive parent available, with due diligence having been exercised in attempting to locate any such natural or adoptive parent. Any individual, agency, or institution vested by the court with legal custody of a child has the rights and duties defined in section 19-1-103.
  • (b) Any individual, agency, or institution vested by the court with the guardianship of the person of a child has the rights and duties defined in section 19-1-103; except that a guardian of the person may not consent to the adoption of a child unless the court has expressly given that authority.

• (2)
  • (a) If legal custody or guardianship of the person is vested in an agency or institution, the court shall transmit, with the court order, copies of the social study, any clinical reports, and other information concerning the care and treatment of the child.
  • (b) An individual, agency, or institution vested by the court with legal custody or guardianship of the person of a child shall give the court any information concerning the child which the court at any time may require.

• (3)
  • (a) Any agency vested by the court with legal custody of a child shall have the right, subject to the approval of the court, to determine where and with whom the child shall live, but this paragraph (a) shall not apply to placement of children committed to the department of human services. In determining where and with whom a child shall live, if in the best interests of the child, preference may be given to the child's grandparent who is appropriate, capable, willing, and available to care for the child.
  • (b) No individual or agency vested by the court with legal custody of a child or with which a child is placed pursuant to subsection (8) of this section shall remove the child from the state for more than thirty days without court approval. When granting such approval, if appropriate, the court shall enter an order that the individual or agency comply with the requirements of the "Interstate Compact on Placement of Children" set forth in part 18 of article 60 of title 24, C.R.S.

• (4)
  • (a) A decree vesting legal custody of a child in an individual, institution, or agency or providing for placement of a child pursuant to section 19-2.5-1102 or 19-3-403 or subsection (8) of this section must be for a determinate period. The court shall review the decree no later than three months after it is entered, except a decree vesting legal custody of a child with the department of human services.
  • (b) The individual, institution, or agency vested with the legal custody of a child may petition the court for renewal of the decree. The court, after notice and hearing, may renew the decree for such additional determinate period as the court may determine if it finds such renewal to be in the best interests of the child and of the community. The findings of the court and the reasons therefor shall be entered with the order renewing or denying renewal of the decree.
  • (c) The court shall review any decree or, if there is no objection by any party to the action, the court may, in its discretion, require an administrative review by the state department of human services of any decree entered in accordance with this subsection (4) each six months after the initial review provided in subsection (4)(a) of this section. In the event that an administrative review is ordered, all counsel of record must be notified and may appear at said review. Periodic reviews must include the determinations and projections required in section 19-3-702.5.
  • (d)
    • (I) When a decree is entered vesting legal custody of a child or youth or providing for placement of a child or youth with an agency in which public money is expended and a county department that delivers child welfare services determines that a referral is appropriate in accordance with rules promulgated by the state board of human services, a delegate child support enforcement unit may charge the parent of the child or youth a fee to cover the costs of providing for residential care of the child or youth. When custody of the child or youth is given to the county department, the fee for residential care must be in accordance with the fee requirements provided by rule of the state board of human services, and the fee applies, to the extent unpaid, to the entire period of placement. When a child or youth is committed to the state department of human services, the fee for care and treatment must be in accordance with the fee requirements provided by rule of the state board of human services, and the fee applies, to the extent unpaid, to the entire period of placement.
    • (II) For an adoptive family who receives an approved Title IV-E adoption assistance subsidy pursuant to the federal "Social Security Act", 42 U.S.C. sec. 673 et seq., or an approved payment in subsidization of adoption pursuant to article 7 of title 26, the cost of care, as defined in section 19-1-103, must not exceed the amount of the adoption assistance payment.
    • (III) The state department of human services shall convene a working group of geographically and demographically diverse partners and stakeholders to provide feedback and recommendations regarding the collection of fees for the residential care of children or youth in out-of-home placement who are not adjudicated dependent or neglected pursuant to section 19-3-102, ensuring compliance with federal law, including but not limited to Title IV of the federal "Social Security Act". On or before March 31, 2022, the state department shall submit a report of the recommendations of the working group to the public behavioral health care and human services committee of the house of representatives and the health and human services committee of the senate, or their successor committees.
  • (e) When a child, juvenile, or youth has been committed to the division of youth services and the court no longer has ongoing jurisdiction, the administrative review division shall review the placement of that child, juvenile, or youth in a qualified residential treatment program within sixty days after placement. When the child, juvenile, or youth has not been committed to the division of youth services and the court has ongoing jurisdiction, within sixty days after a placement of that child, juvenile, or youth in a qualified residential treatment program, or within thirty days after a placement when the qualified individual does not support the qualified residential treatment program level of care or the child, juvenile, youth, guardian ad litem, or any party objects to the placement, a juvenile court shall review that placement. In both instances, the juvenile court or the administrative review division of the state department shall:
    • (I) Consider the assessment, determination, and documentation made by the qualified individual;
    • (II) Determine whether the needs of the child, juvenile, or youth can be met through placement with a parent, legal guardian, legal custodian, kin caregiver, or in a foster care home, or whether placement of the child, juvenile, or youth in a qualified residential treatment program provides the most effective and appropriate level of care for the child, juvenile, or youth in the least restrictive environment, and whether that placement is consistent with the short- and long-term goals, including mental, behavioral, and physical health goals, for the child, juvenile, or youth as specified in the permanency plan for the child, juvenile, or youth or as outlined in the family services plan or division of youth services plan; and
    • (III) Approve or disapprove of the placement.
  • (f) As long as a child, juvenile, or youth remains in a qualified residential treatment program, the county department or the division of youth services shall submit evidence:
    • (I) Demonstrating that ongoing assessment of the strengths and needs of the child, juvenile, or youth continues to support the determination that the needs of the child, juvenile, or youth cannot be met through placement with a parent, legal guardian, legal custodian, kin caregiver, or in a foster family home; that the placement in a qualified residential treatment program provides the most effective and appropriate level of care for the child, juvenile, or youth in the least restrictive environment; and that the placement is consistent with the short- and long-term goals for the child, juvenile, or youth as specified in the permanency plan for the child, juvenile, or youth, or as outlined in the family services plan;
    • (II) Documenting the specific treatment or service needs that will be met for the child, juvenile, or youth in the placement and the length of time the child, juvenile, or youth is expected to need treatment or services; and
    • (III) Documenting the efforts made by the county department to prepare the child, juvenile, or youth to return home or to be placed with a fit and willing kin caregiver, a legal guardian, legal custodian, or an adoptive parent, or in a foster family.
  • (g) The evidence required pursuant to subsection (4)(f) of this section must be submitted at each subsequent review and each subsequent permanency hearing held concerning the child, juvenile, or youth. The evidence must not be submitted less frequently than every ninety days during the duration of the placement of the child, juvenile, or youth in the qualified residential treatment program. The evidence must be submitted to the court or to the administrative review division of the state department of human services if parties consent to the latter. The court shall review the evidence submitted pursuant to subsection (4)(f) of this section at each subsequent permanency and status review hearing at least every ninety days during the duration of the placement of the child, juvenile, or youth in the qualified residential treatment program. If the parties consent to a review by the administrative review division, attorneys of record must be notified and may appear at the review. The administrative review division shall review the evidence submitted pursuant to subsection (4)(f) of this section at least every ninety days during the duration of the placement of the child, juvenile, or youth in the qualified residential treatment program.
  • (h) In making a decision as to proper placement in a qualified residential treatment program, the court or the administrative review division shall consider the assessment provided by the qualified individual and the most recent assessment, as described in subsection (4)(e) of this section, and shall give great weight to the recommendation in the assessment when making a qualified residential treatment program placement decision. An assessment prepared by the qualified individual must identify whether a qualified residential treatment program is the most effective, appropriate, and least restrictive placement for the child or youth. The assessment must also identify child- or youth-specific short- and long-term goals for the child or youth and the family. If the court or administrative review division deviates from the qualified individual's assessment and recommendation, the court or the administrative review division shall make specific findings of fact regarding the most effective, appropriate, and least restrictive placement for the child or youth and whether the placement is consistent with child- or youth-specific short- and long-term goals for the child or youth and the family. When making such findings of fact, the court or administrative review division shall consider all relevant information, including:
    • (I) Whether the protocol for the qualified residential treatment program assessment was followed;
    • (II) The strengths and specific treatment or service needs of the child or youth and the family;
    • (III) The expected length of stay; and
    • (IV) The placement preference of the child or youth and the family.

• (4.5) The department of human services shall implement the provisions of subsections (4)(e) and (4)(f) of this section when the federal government approves Colorado's five-year Title IV-E prevention plan, at which time the department of human services may submit a budget request to the joint budget committee for necessary funding to implement the plan.

• (5) No legal custodian or guardian of the person may be removed without his consent until given notice and an opportunity to be heard by the court if he so requests.

• (6) Any time the court enters an order awarding legal custody of a child or youth to the department of human services or to a county department pursuant to the provisions of this title 19, even temporarily, the order must contain specific findings, if warranted by the evidence, as follows:
  • (a) That continuation of the child in the home would be contrary to the child's best interests;
  • (b) That there has been compliance with reasonable efforts requirements regarding removal of the child from the home, as follows:
    • (I) That reasonable efforts have been made to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the child from the home; or
    • (II) That an emergency situation exists which requires the immediate temporary removal of the child from the home and it is reasonable that preventive efforts not be made due to the emergency situation; or
    • (III) That reasonable efforts to prevent the child's removal from the home are not required because of the existence of a circumstance described in subsection (7) of this section;
  • (c) That reasonable efforts have been made or will be made to reunite the child and the family or that efforts to reunite the child and the family have failed or that reasonable efforts to reunite the child and the family are not required pursuant to subsection (7) of this section; and
  • (d) That procedural safeguards with respect to parental rights have been applied in connection with the removal of the child or youth from the home, a change in the child's or youth's placement out of the home, and any determination affecting family time.

• (6.5) Any time the court enters an order continuing a child or youth in a placement out of the home pursuant to this title 19, the order must contain specific findings, if warranted by the evidence, as follows:
  • (a) The continuation of the child in out-of-home placement is in the best interests of the child;
  • (b) That reasonable efforts have been made to reunite the child and the family or that reasonable efforts to reunite the child and the family are not required pursuant to subsection (7) of this section; and
  • (c) That procedural safeguards with respect to parental rights have been applied in connection with the continuation of the child or youth in out-of-home placement, a change in the child's or youth's placement out of the home, and any determination affecting family time.

• (6.7) Any time the court enters an order related to out-of-home placement pursuant to subsections (6)(a) to (6)(c) or subsection (6.5)(b) of this section; subsection (8)(f) of this section; section 19-2.5-305 (3)(a)(XI)(A) and (3)(a)(XI)(B); section 19-2.5-1116 (1)(a), (1)(b), and (3)(a)(III); or sections 19-3-702 (3)(b) and 19-3-702.5 (1)(b), the order is effective as of the date the findings were made by the court, notwithstanding the date that a written order may be signed by the court. Written orders entered pursuant to subsections (6)(a) to (6)(c) or subsection (6.5)(b) of this section; subsection (8)(f) of this section; section 19-2.5-305 (3)(a)(XI)(A) and (3)(a)(XI)(B); section 19-2.5-1116 (1)(a), (1)(b), and (3)(a)(III); or sections 19-3-702 (3)(b) and 19-3-702.5 (1)(b) must state "the effective date of this order is" and must not use the words "nunc pro tunc".

• (7) Reasonable efforts are not required to prevent the child's removal from the home or to reunify the child and the family in the following circumstances:
  • (a) When the court finds that the parent has subjected the child to aggravated circumstances as described in sections 19-3-604 (1) and (2); or
  • (b) When the parental rights of the parent with respect to a sibling of the child have been involuntarily terminated; unless the prior sibling termination resulted from a parent delivering a child to a firefighter or a staff member of a hospital or community clinic emergency center, as defined in section 19-3-304.5 (9), pursuant to the provisions of section 19-3-304.5; or
  • (c) When the court finds that the parent has been convicted of any of the following crimes:
    • (I) Murder of another child of the parent;
    • (II) Voluntary manslaughter of another child of the parent;
    • (III) Aiding, abetting, or attempting the commission of or conspiring or soliciting to commit the crimes in subparagraphs (I) and (II) of this paragraph (c); or
    • (IV) A felony assault that resulted in serious bodily injury to the child or to another child of the parent.

• (8)
  • (a) Whenever it appears necessary that the placement of a child out of the home will be for longer than ninety days, the placement is voluntary and not court-ordered, and the placement involves the direct expenditure of funds appropriated by the general assembly to the department of human services, a petition for review of need for placement shall be filed by the department or agency with which the child has been placed before the expiration of ninety days in the placement. A decree providing for voluntary placement of a child with an agency in which public money is expended must be renewable in circumstances when there is documentation that the child has an emotional, a physical, or an intellectual disability that necessitates care and treatment for a longer duration than ninety days as provided pursuant to this subsection (8)(a). The court shall not transfer or require relinquishment of legal custody of, or otherwise terminate the parental rights with respect to, a child who has an emotional, a physical, or an intellectual disability and who was voluntarily placed out of the home for the purposes of obtaining special treatment or care solely because the parent or legal guardian is unable to provide the treatment or care. Whenever a child fifteen years of age or older consents to placement in a mental health facility pursuant to section 27-65-104, the review pursuant to section 27-65-104 (4) must be conducted in lieu of and must fulfill the requirements for review under this subsection (8)(a).
  • (b)
    • (I) The petition and all subsequent court documents in any proceedings brought under paragraph (a) of this subsection (8) shall be titled "The People of the State of Colorado, in the Interest of ___________________, a child (or children) and Concerning ___________________, Respondent." The petition shall be verified, and the statements in the petition may be made upon information and belief.
    • (II) The petition shall set forth plainly the facts that bring the child within the court's jurisdiction, specifying that the child is subject to immediate placement out of the home or has been in voluntary placement out of the home and it appears that continuation of the placement is necessary for a time exceeding ninety days and continuation of the placement is necessary and is in the best interest of the child, the family, and the community. The petition shall also state the name, age, and residence of the child and the names and residences of his or her parents, guardian, or other legal custodian or of his or her nearest known relative if no parent, guardian, or other legal custodian is known.
    • (III) All petitions filed pursuant to this subsection (8) shall include the following statement: "If the child is placed out of the home for a period of twelve months or longer, the court shall hold a permanency hearing within said twelve months to determine the future status of the child. The review of any decree of placement of a child subsequent to the three-month review required by section 19-1-115 (4)(a), Colorado Revised Statutes, may be conducted as an administrative review by the department of human services. If you are a party to the action, you have a right to object to an administrative review, and, if you object, the review shall be conducted by the court."
  • (c) After a petition has been filed, the court shall promptly issue a summons reciting briefly the substance of the petition. The summons must be substantially in the form specified in section 19-3-502 and be dealt with in the manner provided in section 19-3-503 and must set forth the constitutional and legal rights of the child, the child's parents or guardian, and any other respondent, including the right to have an attorney present at the hearing on the petition. The petitioner shall send the summons to the child and the child's parents, guardian, or legal custodian by certified mail. The court shall give notice of the hearing to the director of the facility or agency in which the child is placed and any person who has physical custody of the child and any attorney or guardian ad litem or counsel for youth of record. Nothing in this subsection (8) requires the presence of any person before the court unless the court so directs.
  • (d) The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for a child under twelve years of age, or counsel for youth if the youth is twelve years of age or older, to protect the interest of any child or youth who is the subject of a petition for review of placement, unless the court makes specific findings that no useful purpose would be served by such appointment. The court may appoint both a guardian ad litem and a counsel for youth if a youth is twelve years of age or older and the appointment of a guardian ad litem is necessary because the youth has diminished capacity.
  • (e) For purposes of determining proper placement of the child, the petition for review of placement or social study shall be accompanied by an evaluation for placement prepared by the department or agency that recommends placement or with which the child has been placed. The evaluation for placement shall include an assessment of the child's physical and mental health, developmental status, family and social history, and educational status. The petition shall also be accompanied by recommended placements for the child and the monthly cost of each and a treatment plan that contains, at a minimum, the goals to be achieved by the placement; the services to be provided; the intensity, duration, and provider of the services; identification of the services that can be provided only in a residential setting; and the recommended duration of the placement. The petition or social study shall also be accompanied by the required fee to be charged to the parents pursuant to paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of this section. In addition, if a change in legal custody is recommended, the evaluation for placement shall include other alternatives that have been explored and the reason for their rejection, and the evaluation for placement shall contain an explanation of any particular placements that were considered and rejected and the reason for their rejection.
  • (f) The petition for review of need for placement shall request the court to determine, by a preponderance of the evidence, whether placement or continued placement is necessary and in the best interest of the child, the family, and the community and whether reasonable efforts have been made to return the child to a safe home or whether the child should be permanently removed from his or her home. If the court makes such findings, it shall enter a decree ordering the child's placement out of the home in the facility or setting that most appropriately meets the needs of the child, the family, and the community. In making its decision as to proper placement, the court shall utilize the evaluation for placement prepared pursuant to section 19-1-107 or the evaluation for placement required by paragraph (e) of this subsection (8) that shall state the cost of recommended placement. If the evaluation for placement recommends placement in a facility located in Colorado that can provide appropriate treatment and that will accept the child, then the court shall not place the child in a facility outside this state. If the court deviates from the recommendations of the evaluation for placement in a manner that results in a difference in the cost of the disposition ordered by the court and the cost of the disposition recommended in the evaluation, the court shall make specific findings of fact relating to its decision, including the monthly cost of the placement, if ordered. A copy of such findings shall be sent to the chief justice of the Colorado supreme court, who shall report annually to the joint budget committee and the health and human services committees of the house of representatives and senate of the general assembly, or any successor committees, on such orders. If the court commits the child to the department of human services, it shall not make a specific placement, nor shall the provisions of this paragraph (f) relating to specific findings of fact be applicable. If the court makes a finding that continued placement is not necessary and is not in the best interest of the child, the family, and the community, the court shall dismiss the petition for review of need for placement and shall order that the child be returned home. The court may require a continued hearing of the petition for review of need for placement for a period not to exceed fourteen days if it finds that the materials submitted are insufficient to make a finding as provided in this paragraph (f).
  • (g) A petition for review of need for placement shall not be handled as an informal adjustment in accordance with the provisions of section 19-3-501 (2).

Amended by 2024 Ch. 222,§ 1, eff. 5/22/2024.

Amended by 2023 Ch. 284,§ 8, eff. 6/1/2023.

Amended by 2022 Ch. 92, § 7, eff. 1/9/2023.

Amended by 2022 Ch. 451, § 28, eff. 8/10/2022.

Amended by 2021 Ch. 136, § 65, eff. 10/1/2021.

Amended by 2021 Ch. 344,§ 6, eff. 6/25/2021.

Amended by 2021 Ch. 344,§ 1, eff. 6/25/2021.

Amended by 2020 Ch. 221, § 3, eff. 7/2/2020.

Amended by 2019 Ch. 256, § 4, eff. 8/2/2019.

Amended by 2019 Ch. 237, § 4, eff. 8/2/2019.

Amended by 2019 Ch. 180, § 2, eff. 8/2/2019.

Amended by 2019 Ch. 294, § 22, eff. 7/1/2019.

Amended by 2018 Ch. 38, § 29, eff. 8/8/2018.

Amended by 2018 Ch. 20, § 2, eff. 3/7/2018.

L. 87: Entire title R&RE, p. 706, § 1, effective October 1. L. 89: (4)(c) amended, p. 930, § 1, effective April 23. L. 90: (4)(d) amended, p. 1014, § 2, effective July 1. L. 91: (1)(a) and (3)(a) amended, p. 264, § 6, effective May 31. L. 92: (3)(b) and (4) amended and (6) added, p. 221, § 5, effective July 1. L. 93: (4)(c) and (6) amended, p. 388, § 1, effective April 19; (4)(d) amended, p. 1546, § 2, effective July 1. L. 94: (3)(a), (4)(a), (4)(c), and (4)(d) amended, p. 2659, § 146, effective July 1. L. 98: (1) amended, p. 820, § 22, effective August 5. L. 2001: (6) amended and (7) added, p. 842, § 3, effective June 1. L. 2003: (7)(b) amended, p. 769, § 2, effective March 25; (1)(a) amended, p. 2629, § 12, effective June 5; IP(6) and (6)(b)(II) amended and (6.5) added, p. 2486, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2004: (6.7) added, p. 357, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2007: (4)(d) amended and (8) added, p. 1506, § 4, effective May 31. L. 2008: (3)(b), (4)(a), and (6.7) amended, p. 1891, § 61, effective August 5. L. 2009: (4)(a) amended, (SB 09-292), ch. 1949, p. 1949, § 34, effective August 5. L. 2010: (8)(a) amended, (SB 10-175), ch. 788, p. 788, § 37, effective April 29. L. 2018: (7)(b) amended, (SB 18 -050), ch. 270, p. 270, § 2, effective March 7; (4)(d)(I) amended, (SB 18 -092), ch. 407, p. 407, § 29, effective August 8. L. 2019: (6.7) amended, (SB 19-108), ch. 2728, p. 2728, § 22, effective July 1; (4)(c) and (6.7) amended, (HB 19-1219), ch. 2355, p. 2355, § 4, effective August 2; (4)(d)(II) amended, (SB 19-178), ch. 180, p. 2048, § 2, effective August 2; (4)(e), (4)(f), and (4.5) added, (HB 19-1308), ch. 2459, p. 2459, § 4, effective August 2. L. 2020: IP(4)(e), (4)(e)(II), and (4)(f) amended and (4)(g) and (4)(h) added, (SB 20-162), ch. 1088, p. 1088, § 3, effective July 2. L. 2021: (4)(d)(III) added and IP(4)(e) and IP(4)(h) amended, (SB 21-278), ch. 344, pp. 2244, 2240, §§ 6, 1, effective June 25; (1), (4)(a), (4)(d)(II), and (6.7) amended, (SB 21-059), ch. 727, p. 727, § 65, effective October 1.

(1) 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 § 19-3-115 as said section existed in 1986, the year prior to the repeal and reenactment of this title.

(2) Amendments to subsection (6.7) by SB 19-108 and HB 19-1219 were harmonized.

2022 Ch. 451, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).

2022 Ch. 92, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).

For the legislative declaration contained in the 2001 act amending subsection (6) and enacting subsection (7), see section 1 of chapter 241, Session Laws of Colorado 2001. For the legislative declaration contained in the 2007 act amending subsection (4)(d) and enacting subsection (8), see section 1 of chapter 351, Session Laws of Colorado 2007. For the legislative declaration in SB 18-092, see section 1 of chapter 38, Session Laws of Colorado 2018.