JUVENILE COURT PROCEDURAL RULES COMMITTEE 
ADOPTION REPORT 
 
Amendment of Pa.R.J.C.P. 1120, 1149, 1154, 1242, 1330, 1409,  
1512, 1514, 1515, 1608, 1609, 1610, 1611, and 1631 

On March 22, 2023, the Supreme Court amended Pennsylvania Rules of Juvenile 
Court Procedure 1120, 1149, 1154, 1242, 1330, 1409, 1512, 1514, 1515, 1608, 1609, 
1610, 1611, and 1631 to, inter alia, implement the Act of November 3, 2022, P.L. 1765, 
No. 118.  This Act amended Title 67 concerning family finding, permanency and transition 
plans, and amended the Juvenile Act concerning permanency hearings.   The Juvenile 
Court  Procedural  Rules  Committee  has  prepared  this  Adoption  Report  describing  the 
rulemaking process.  An Adoption Report should not be confused with Comments to the 
rules.    See  Pa.R.J.A.  103,  cmt.    The  statements  contained  herein  are  those  of  the 
Committee, not the Court. 

he Act is intended to improve the transition of a child leaving foster care at 18 
years of age or older.  The Act, inter alia, repealed the current family finding statutes and 
relocated them to Chapter 75 within Title 67.  See 67 Pa.C.S. §§ 7501-7509.  Further, the 
Act  included  a  requirement  that  the  county  agency  develop  a  permanency  plan  and 
provide services to facilitate that plan.  See 67 Pa.C.S. § 7504.  Additionally, the county 
agency is required to plan for, and provide services related to, a child’s transition out of 
foster  care.    See  id.  §  7505.    The  Act  also  amended  the  Juvenile  Act  concerning  the 
disposition of dependent children at 42 Pa.C.S. § 6351(f)(8), (f)(8.2), and (f.1).   

or children 14 years of age or older, the Act requires the court to determine at the 
permanency review hearing whether transition planning and services are being provided 
in  accordance  with  67  Pa.C.S.  §  7505.    See  42  Pa.C.S.  §  6351(f)(8).    Whether  the 
required  services  are  being  provided  is  addressed  in  the  amendment  of  Pa.R.J.C.P. 
1608(d)(1)(xi)(A).  There is no proposed requirement for planning because the rule text 
currently does not require a transition plan pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 675(5)(A).  Instead, 
the transition plan requirement of 67 Pa.C.S. § 7505 is referenced in the same Comment 
currently referencing the transition plan required by 42 U.S.C. § 675(5)(A).   

he  county  agency  is  also  required  to  develop  a  permanency  plan  and  provide 
permanency  services  pursuant  to  67  Pa.C.S.  §  7504  when  a  child’s  legal  custody  is 
temporarily  transferred  pursuant  to  42  Pa.C.S.  §  6351(A)(2).    Section  7504  contains 
specific  requirements  for  the  plan  and  services.    Given  that  these  requirements  apply 
when  a  child  is  removed  from  home,  i.e.,  legal  custody  is  temporarily  transferred, 
subdivision  (a)(6)  has  been  added  to  Pa.R.J.C.P.  1514  (Dispositional  Finding  Before 
Removal from Home).   

 

 

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For  children  18  years  of  age  or  older  whose  supervision  is  being  terminated,  a 
transition plan that complies with 67 Pa.C.S. § 7505 is required in addition to the present 
requirement that the transition plan comply with 42 U.S.C. § 675(5)(H).  See 42 Pa.C.S. 
§ 6351(f)(8.2).  The stated requirements for a transition plan under § 7505 are: 

(1) Identification  of  or  detailed  options  for  a  suitable  place  of  intended 

residence.  

support.  

education.  

(2) A list, with contact information, of supportive adults and family members.  

(3) Identification  of  local  opportunities  for  mentorships  and  continuing  social 

(4) A  plan  or  detailed  options  for  employment,  job  training  or  continuing 

(5) Documentation  of  the  child's  possession  of  relevant  documents  or,  if  the 
child  does  not  have  possession  of  the  documents,  an  explanation  of  the 
reasons  why  the  child  does  not  have  the  documents  and  detailed 
instructions on how the child may obtain the documents. 

67 Pa.C.S. § 7505(B).  

ermanency  hearings  for  children  over  18  are  governed  by  Pa.R.J.C.P.  1610.  
Subdivision (A)(2) of that rule requires the court to determine whether the transition plan 
is  consistent  with  Pa.R.J.C.P.  1631(e)(2).    Turning  to  that  rule,  subdivision  (e)(2)(i) 
(“specific plans for housing”) appears to satisfy § 7505(B)(1).  Subdivision (e)(2)(vi) (“a 
description  of  any  programs  that  would  provide  mentors  or  assistance  in  establishing 
positive adult connections”) and subdivision (e)(2)(viii) (“a description of any other needed 
support  services”)  appear  to  satisfy  §  7505(B)(3).    Subdivision  (e)(2)(iii)  (“the  specific 
plans  for  pursuing  educational  or  vocational  training  goals”)  and  subdivision  (e)(2)(iv) 
(“the child’s employment goals and whether the child is employed”) appear to satisfy § 
7505(B)(4).  Subdivision (e)(2)(vii) (“verification that all vital identification documents and 
records have been provided to the child”) appears to satisfy § 7505(B)(5).  

here is one item in § 7505(B) that is not included in subdivision (e)(2): “A list, with 
contact information, of supportive adults and family members.”  67 Pa.C.S. § 7505(B)(2).  
Accordingly, Pa.R.J.C.P. 1631 has been amended to add subdivision (e)(2)(ix). 

he  Act  also  changes  the  applicability  of  another  planned  permanent  living 
arrangement  (“APPLA”)  from  children  16  years  old  to  children  18  years  old.    See  42 
Pa.C.S. § 6351(f.1)(5)(i).  This is addressed by the amendment of Pa.R.J.C.P. 1608(d)(2).  
Further, for APPLA, two, rather than one, supportive adults with significant connections 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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to the child’s life must be identified.  See id. § 6351(f.1)(5)(ii) and (f.1)(5)(iv)(D).  This is 
addressed by the amendment of Pa.R.J.C.P. 1608(d)(2)(i)(C) and (d)(2)(iii)(C).  Finally, 
the court must also identify the specific approved APPLA.  See id. § 6351(f.1)(5)(iv)(E).  
This is addressed by the amendment of Pa.R.J.C.P. 1608(d)(2)(iii)(D). 

n addition, the Comments accompanying Pa.R.J.C.P. 1154, 1242, 1512, and 1609 

have been amended to reflect the Act of December 28, 2015, P.L. 559, No. 94. 

side from stylistic revisions, the following commentary has been removed: 

a.R.J.C.P. 1154 

fficial Note:  Rule 1154 adopted August 21, 2006, effective February 1, 
2007.  Amended April 29, 2011, effective July 1, 2011.  Amended April 6, 
2017, effective September 1, 2017. 

ommittee Explanatory Reports:  Final Report explaining the amendments 
to Rule 1154 published with the Court’s Order at 41 Pa.B. 2413 (May 14, 
2011).    Final  Report  explaining  the  amendments  to  Rule  1154  published 
with the Court’s Order at 47 Pa.B. 2313 (April 22, 2017). 

 

Pa.R.J.C.P. 1242 

Official Note:  Rule 1242 adopted August 21, 2006, effective February 1, 
2007. Amended April 21, 2011, effective July 1, 2011. Amended April 29, 
2011, effective July 1, 2011. Amended July 13, 2015, effective October 1, 
2015. Amended May 16, 2017, effective July 1, 2017. 

ommittee Explanatory Reports:  Final Report explaining the provisions of 
Rule 1242 published with the Court’s Order at 36 Pa.B. 5571 (September 
2, 2006).  Final Report explaining the amendments to Rule 1242 published 
with  the  Court’s  Order  at  41  Pa.B.  2319  (May  7,  2011).    Final  Report 
explaining the amendments to Rule 1242 published with the Court’s Order 
at 41 Pa.B. 2413 (May 14, 2011).  Final Report explaining the amendments 
to Rule 1242 published with the Court’s Order at 45 Pa.B. 3987 (July 25, 
2015).    Final  Report  explaining  the  amendments  to  Rule  1242  published 
with the Court’s Order at 47 Pa.B. 3078 (June 3, 2017). 

a.R.J.C.P. 1608 

Official  Note:  Rule  1608  adopted  August  21,  2006,  effective  February  1, 
2007.  Amended December 18, 2009, effective immediately.  Amended April 
21, 2011, effective July 1, 2011.  Amended April 29, 2011, effective July 1, 

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2011.  Amended October 21, 2013, effective December 1, 2013. Amended 
July  13,  2015,  effective  October  1,  2015.    Amended  December  9,  2015, 
effective January 1, 2016.  Amended June 14, 2016, effective October 1, 
2016. 

ommittee Explanatory Reports: Final Report explaining the provisions of 
Rule 1608 published with the Court’s Order at 36 Pa.B. 5571 (September 
2, 2006).  Final Report explaining the amendments to Rule 1608 published 
with  the  Court’s  Order  at  40  Pa.B.  21  (January  2,  2010).    Final  Report 
explaining the amendments to Rule 1608 published with the Court’s Order 
at 41 Pa.B. 2319 (May 7, 2011).  Final Report explaining the amendments 
to Rule 1608 published with the Court’s Order at 41 Pa.B. 2430 (May 14, 
2011).    Final  Report  explaining  the  amendments  to  Rule  1608  published 
with the Court’s Order at 43 Pa.B. 6658 (November 9, 2013).  Final Report 
explaining the amendments to Rule 1608 published with the Court’s Order 
at 45 Pa.B. 3987 (July 25, 2015).  Final Report explaining the amendments 
to Rule 1608 published with the Court’s Order at 45 Pa.B. 7289 (December 
26, 2015).  Final Report explaining the amendments to Rule 1608 published 
with the Court’s Order at  Pa.B. - (-). 

Pa.R.J.C.P. 1631 

Official Note:  Rule 1613 adopted August 21, 2006, effective February 1, 
2007.  Amended July 29, 2009, effective immediately.  Amended April 29, 
2011, effective July 1, 2011.  Amended October 21, 2013 and renumbered 
from Rule 1613 to Rule 1631, effective December 1, 2013.   

ommittee Explanatory Reports:  Final Report explaining the provisions of 
Rule 1613 published with the Court’s Order at 36 Pa.B. 5571 (September 
2, 2006).  Final Report explaining the amendments to Rule 1613 published 
with the Court’s Order at 39 Pa.B. 4887 (August 15, 2009).  Final Report 
explaining the amendments to Rule 1613 published with the Court’s Order 
at 41 Pa.B. 2430 (May 14, 2011).  Final Report explaining the amendments 
to Rule 1631 published with the Court’s Order at 43 Pa.B. 6658 (November 
9, 2013). 
 

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hese amendments become effective October 1, 2023. 

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