SECTION 1. Chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, after section 25, the following new section:-
Section 25A. Any time after granting temporary custody of a child to the department, the court may review and revise that order sua sponte to allow for the child to be placed in the custody of a parent, guardian, custodian, or a suitable third party. No sooner than 60 days after the filing of the care and protection petition under section 24, any party may file a motion requesting such a review. If the party alleges that there has been a material change in circumstances, the court shall take evidence on the issue to determine whether a modification of the order is warranted.
SECTION 2. Section 26 (a) of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence the following new sentence:-
The court may thereafter grant temporary or permanent custody of the child to the child’s parent without a finding that the child’s other parent is unfit or adjudicating the child in need of care and protection.
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