A. No child shall remain in voluntary placement for longer than one hundred eighty consecutive days or for more than one hundred eighty days in any calendar year; provided that a child may remain in voluntary placement up to an additional one hundred eighty consecutive days upon order of the court after the filing of a petition by the department for extension of voluntary placement, a hearing and a finding that additional voluntary placement is in the best interests of the child.
B. In no event shall a child remain in voluntary placement for a period in excess of three hundred sixty-five days in any two-year period.
C. Any placement described in this section shall not be considered abandonment by a parent, guardian or custodian or other family member.
History: 1978 Comp., § 32A-3A-7, enacted by Laws 1993, ch. 77, § 69; 2005, ch. 82, § 1.
The 2005 amendment, effective April 4, 2005, extended the time for temporary placements of children.
Structure 2021 New Mexico Statutes
Article 3A - Families Services
Section 32A-3A-1 - Short title; purpose.
Section 32A-3A-2 - Definitions.
Section 32A-3A-3 - Request for family services; withdrawal of request; presumption of good faith.
Section 32A-3A-4 - Referral process.
Section 32A-3A-6 - Voluntary placement of child outside home; documentation.
Section 32A-3A-7 - Voluntary placement; time limitation.
Section 32A-3A-8 - Duty to file a petition.
Section 32A-3A-9 - Right to regain custody.
Section 32A-3A-10 - Voluntary placement; rights of parent.
Section 32A-3A-11 - Emergency placement; criminal history record check.
Section 32A-3A-12 - Foster families; free admission to museums and state parks.
Section 32A-3A-13 - Plan of care; guidelines; creation; data sharing; training.
Section 32A-3A-14 - Notification to the department of noncompliance with a plan of care.