Foster Parents Rights/Notice.

SB 170 requires North Carolina's child welfare system to notify foster parents before a juvenile is placed with a biological parent. Specifically, it mandates that foster parents receive 15 days' written notice of court hearings about placement decisions and at least 48 hours of verbal notice if a child returns to a parent after a permanency hearing. This directly affects foster parents by ensuring they are informed about potential changes in a child's living situation. The bill amends existing law to explicitly include "the person providing care for the juvenile" (i.e., foster parents) as a required recipient of notice, strengthening their role in transition planning. It takes effect October 1, 2025.