Section 48.485. Transfer of Indian children to department for adoption.

 

(1)  If the department accepts guardianship or legal custody or both from a tribal court under s. 48.48 (3m) , the department shall seek a permanent adoptive placement for the child or seek to enter into a subsidized guardianship agreement under s. 48.623 (2) with a proposed guardian of the child and petition the court for the appointment of that individual as the guardian of the child under s. 48.977 (2) or under a substantially similar tribal law.

(2)  If a permanent adoptive or subsidized guardianship placement is not in progress within 2 years after entry of the termination of parental rights order by the tribal court, the department may petition the tribal court to transfer legal custody or guardianship of the Indian child back to the Indian tribe, except that the department may not petition the tribal court to transfer back to an Indian tribe legal custody or guardianship of an Indian child who was initially taken into custody under s. 48.195 (1) .

1989 a. 31 ; 2005 a. 296 ; 2009 a. 94 ; 2013 a. 20 .