An Act To Give Grandparents Intervenor Status In Certain Child Protection Proceedings

This bill allows courts in Maine to grant grandparents "intervenor status" in child protection cases when a child is placed in foster care by the Department of Health and Human Services. If granted, grandparents gain formal rights to be heard in court, present evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and access case records. The court must base this decision solely on whether the child is in foster care, not on other factors. This change applies specifically to cases involving child protection proceedings, not adoption or visitation rights, which remain governed by existing law.