Explanatory note
This explanatory note relates to this Bill as introduced into Parliament.

Overview of Bill

The object of this Bill is to amend the Children and Young Persons (Care and
Protection) Act 1998 so as to ensure that care plans and parent responsibility
contracts under the Act become a mandatory step in the process of dealing with
children and young persons who are in need of care and protection. As a result of the
proposed Act, the Director-General of the Department of Human Services will be
required to make all reasonable efforts to develop a care plan or parent responsibility
contract with the parents (or primary care-givers) of a child or young person who is
in need of care or protection before the Director-General can proceed to make a care
application before the Children's Court in relation to the child or young person. The
parents or primary care-givers will also be required to attend the first meeting
arranged by the Director-General for the purposes of developing the care plan or
parent responsibility contract.

The Bill also makes it clear that care plans and parent responsibility contracts may
be made in relation to unborn children who may be at risk of harm subsequent to their
birth.

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Explanatory note page 2

Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Amendment (Parental Responsibility) Bill
2010
Explanatory note

Outline of provisions

Clause 1 sets out the name (also called the short title) of the proposed Act.

Clause 2 provides for the commencement of the proposed Act on the date of assent
to the proposed Act.

Schedule 1 amends the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998
in the manner described in the above overview.

Note: If this Bill is not modified, these Explanatory Notes would reflect the Bill as passed in the House. If the Bill has been amended by Committee, these Explanatory Notes may not necessarily reflect the Bill as passed.

 

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