NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1971 SESSION

CHAPTER 432

HOUSE BILL 421

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE SUPPORT OF A CHILD COMMITTED TO THE CUSTODY OF AN AGENCY OR PERSON.

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

Section 1.  G.S. 7A-286 is hereby amended by adding a sentence to G.S. 7A-286(2)(c) so that it will read as follows:

"c.        Place the child in the custody of the county department of social services in the county of his residence, or in the case of a child who has legal residence outside the State, in the temporary custody of the county department of social services in the county where the child is found so that said agency may return the child to the responsible authorities. Any county department of social services in whose custody or temporary custody a child is placed shall have the authority to arrange for and provide medical care as needed for such child."

Sec. 2.  G.S. 7A-286 is further amended by rewriting the paragraph following G.S. 7A-286(2)(c) and before (3) to read as follows:

"In any case where the court removes custody from a parent or other person standing in loco parentis, the court order shall include provision for such support of the child by the parents or other responsible parties as may be reasonable under the circumstances, and the court may order any parent who appears in court with such child to pay such support, or after notice to the parent as provided by this article, the court may hold a hearing and order the parent to pay such support. If the court places a child in the custody of a county department of social services and if the court finds that the parents or other responsible parties are unable to pay the cost of the support, maintenance, medical or dental care required by the child, such cost shall be paid by the county department of social services in whose custody the child is placed, provided the child is not receiving care in an institution owned or operated by the State or Federal Government or any subdivision thereof."

Sec. 3.  This act shall become effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 24th day of May, 1971.