P.R. Laws tit. 8, § 447j
In every case of termination of custody, the Department shall inform the court of the reasonable effort that has been made to preserve the unity of the family and/or reunite the family, with the participation of the necessary governmental and nongovernmental entities.
The Department shall submit periodic evaluation reports with whatever information the court may require and within the period set by the court. Said evaluation reports shall include information on the condition and physical, mental and/or emotional progress of the minor, as well as the services provided to the family, the father, mother, or person responsible for the minor. These reports shall also include pertinent recommendations as to the length, modification, or termination of the service plan, or the reasonable efforts made according to the results obtained in the process of supporting and helping the families.
In addition to what is provided in this section, the court shall schedule a follow-up hearing within six (6) months as of the date of having awarded temporary custody of the minor. In said follow-up hearing, the judge shall determine whether the family, father, mother or person in charge of the minor is expending reasonable efforts as required under this chapter to achieve family reunification. If such is the case, the judge shall provide the family, father, mother or person in charge of the minor a term not greater than three (3) months to continue receiving services based on the permanent placement plan to attempt family reunification. However, if in said hearing the Department certifies and proves to the judge that the family, father, mother or person in charge of the minor shall not comply with the permanent placement plan previously established or does not wish to carry on with the permanent placement plan, the judge shall convert the follow-up hearing, established in this section, into a final ruling hearing, pursuant to § 447k of this title.
History —Aug. 1, 2003, No. 177, § 41; Sept. 16, 2004, No. 356, § 2; Dec. 18, 2009, No. 186, § 25, eff. 30 days after Dec. 18, 2009.