Sec. 17a-113. (Formerly Sec. 17-43b). Custody of child pending application for removal of guardian or termination of parental rights; enforcement by warrant. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 17a-113. (Formerly Sec. 17-43b). Custody of child pending application for removal of guardian or termination of parental rights; enforcement by warrant. When application has been made for the removal of one or both parents as guardians or of any other guardian of the person of such child, or when an application has been made for the termination of the parental rights of any parties who may have parental rights with regard to any minor child, the superior court in which such proceeding is pending may, if it deems it necessary based on the best interests of the child, order the custody of such child to be given to the Commissioner of Children and Families or some proper person or to the board of managers of any child-caring institution or organization, or any children's home or similar institution licensed or approved by the Commissioner of Children and Families, pending the determination of the matter, and may enforce such order by a warrant directed to a proper officer commanding the officer to take possession of the child and to deliver such child into the custody of the person, board, home or institution designated by such order; and said court may, if either or both parents are removed as guardians or if any other guardian of the person is removed, or if said parental rights are terminated, enforce its decree, awarding the custody of the child to the person or persons entitled thereto, by a warrant directed to the proper officer commanding the officer to take possession of the child and to deliver such child into the care and custody of the person entitled thereto. Such officer shall make returns to such court of such officer's doings under either warrant. Upon the issuance of such order giving custody of the child to the Commissioner of Children and Families, or not later than sixty days after the issuance of such order, the court shall make a determination whether the Department of Children and Families made reasonable efforts to keep the child with his or her parents or guardian prior to the issuance of such order and, if such efforts were not made, whether such reasonable efforts were not possible, taking into consideration the child's best interests, including the child's health and safety.

      (P.A. 74-164, S. 17, 20; P.A. 75-420, S. 4, 6; P.A. 76-436, S. 590, 681; P.A. 77-614, S. 521, 610; P.A. 82-43, S. 1; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 34.)

      History: P.A. 75-420 replaced welfare commissioner with commissioner of social services; P.A. 76-436 replaced juvenile court with superior court and gave custody of children to commissioner of children and youth services rather than commissioner of social services, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-614 replaced social services commissioner with commissioner of human resources as licensing authority of institutions, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 82-43 replaced human resources commissioner with children and youth services commissioner as licensing or approving agency for children's homes and institutions; Sec. 17-43b transferred to Sec. 17a-113 in 1991; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7 authorized the court to issue the custody order "if it deems it necessary based on the best interests of the child" rather than "if it deems it necessary", added provision requiring the court upon the issuance of order giving custody of the child to Commissioner of Children and Families, or not later than 60 days thereafter, to make a determination whether the Department of Children and Families made reasonable efforts to keep the child with his or her parents or guardian prior to the issuance of such order and, if such efforts were not made, whether such reasonable efforts were not possible considering the best interests of the child and made technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality, effective August 15, 2002.

      Cited. 46 CA 69.