GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001

SESSION LAW 2001-309
SENATE BILL 715

AN ACT TO REQUIRE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE DIVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE COMMISSION OF INDIAN AFFAIRS and the north carolina directors of social services association ON INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ISSUES.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The Division of Social Services, Department of Health and Human Services, shall work in collaboration with the Commission of Indian Affairs, Department of Administration, and the North Carolina Directors of Social Services Association to develop, in a manner consistent with federal law, an effective process through which the following can be accomplished:
(1)	Establishment of a relationship between the Division of Social Services and the Indian tribes set forth in G.S. 143B‑407(a), either separately or through a central entity, that will enable these tribes, in general, and tribal councils or other tribal organizations, in particular, to receive reasonable notice of identified Indian children who are being placed in foster care or adoption or who otherwise enter the child protective services system, and to be consulted on policies and other matters pertinent to placement of Indian children in foster care or adoption.
(2)	Agreement on a process by which North Carolina Indians might be identified and recruited for purposes of becoming foster care and adoptive parents.
(3)	Agreement on a process by which the cultural, social, and historical perspective and significance associated with Indian life may be taught to appropriate child welfare workers and to foster and adoptive parents.
(4)	Identification or formation of Indian child welfare advocacy, placement and training entities with which the Department of Health and Human Services might contract or otherwise form partnerships for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this act.
(5)	Development of a valid and reliable process through which Indian children within the child welfare system can be identified.
(6)	Identify the appropriate roles of the State and of Indian tribes, organizations and agencies to ensure successful means for securing the best interests of Indian children.

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 16th day of July, 2001.

	s/	 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 James B. Black
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved 10:38 p.m. this 27th day of July, 2001