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<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="5-525.2" title_number="5" title_name="Children" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Child Care; Foster Care">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Sibling” means a brother or sister of the whole or half blood or by adoption.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Treatment foster care home” means an out–of–home placement facility that is part of a program designed and implemented by a child placement agency to provide intensive casework and treatment in a family setting to children with special physical, emotional, or behavioral needs.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A local department shall place together siblings who are in an out–of–home placement under § 5–525 of this subtitle if:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>it is in the best interests of the siblings to be placed together; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>placement of the siblings together does not conflict with a specific health or safety regulation.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If placement of the siblings together conflicts with a specific health or safety regulation, the local department may place the siblings together if the local department makes a written finding describing how placement of the siblings together serves the best interests of the siblings.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in order to place siblings together the local department may place more than two children who require treatment in an eligible treatment foster care home if:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the local department makes a written finding explaining why placement of the siblings together:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>is in the best interests of the siblings; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>will not harm other children placed at the same treatment foster care home; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the local department notifies the Administration of the placement.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Any siblings who are separated due to a foster care or adoptive placement may petition a court, including a juvenile court with jurisdiction over one or more of the siblings, for reasonable sibling visitation rights.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If a petitioner under this subsection petitions a court to issue a visitation decree or to amend an order, the court:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>may hold a hearing to determine whether visitation is in the best interest of the children;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>shall weigh the relative interests of each child and base its decision on the best interests of the children promoting the greatest welfare and least harm to the children; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>may issue an appropriate order or decree.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
