1. If the court finds that a child is in need of protection, it may, by its order, after receipt and review of the report from the agency which provides child welfare services:

(a) Permit the child to remain in the temporary or permanent custody of the parents of the child or a guardian with or without supervision by the court or a person or agency designated by the court, and with or without retaining jurisdiction of the case, upon such conditions as the court may prescribe;

(b) Place the child in the temporary or permanent custody of a relative, a fictive kin or other person the court finds suitable to receive and care for the child with or without supervision, and with or without retaining jurisdiction of the case, upon such conditions as the court may prescribe; or

(c) Place the child in the temporary custody of a public agency or institution authorized to care for children, the local juvenile probation department, the local department of juvenile services or a private agency or institution licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services or a county whose population is 100,000 or more to care for such a child.

In carrying out this subsection, the court may, in its sole discretion and in compliance with the requirements of chapter 159A of NRS, consider an application for the guardianship of the child. If the court grants such an application, it may retain jurisdiction of the case or transfer the case to another court of competent jurisdiction.

2. The court shall not deny placement of a child in the temporary or permanent custody of a person pursuant to subsection 1 solely because the person:

(a) Is deaf, is blind or has another physical disability; or

(b) Is the holder of a valid registry identification card.

3. If, pursuant to subsection 1, a child is placed other than with a parent:

(a) The parent retains the right to consent to adoption, to determine the child’s religious affiliation and to reasonable visitation, unless restricted by the court. If the custodian of the child interferes with these rights, the parent may petition the court for enforcement of the rights of the parent.

(b) The court shall set forth good cause why the child was placed other than with a parent.

4. If, pursuant to subsection 1, the child is to be placed with a relative or fictive kin, the court may consider, among other factors, whether the child has resided with a particular relative or fictive kin for 3 years or more before the incident which brought the child to the court’s attention.

5. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a copy of the report prepared for the court by the agency which provides child welfare services must be sent to the custodian and the parent or legal guardian. If the child was delivered to a provider of emergency services pursuant to NRS 432B.630:

(a) The parent who delivered the child to the provider shall be deemed to have waived his or her right to a copy of the report; and

(b) A copy of the report must be sent to the parent who did not deliver the child to the provider, if the location of such parent is known.

6. In determining the placement of a child pursuant to this section, if the child is not permitted to remain in the custody of the parents of the child or guardian:

(a) It must be presumed to be in the best interests of the child to be placed together with the siblings of the child.

(b) Preference must be given to placing the child in the following order:

(1) With any person related within the fifth degree of consanguinity to the child or a fictive kin, and who is suitable and able to provide proper care and guidance for the child, regardless of whether the relative or fictive kin resides within this State.

(2) In a foster home that is licensed pursuant to chapter 424 of NRS.

7. Any search for a relative with whom to place a child pursuant to this section must be completed within 1 year after the initial placement of the child outside of the home of the child. If a child is placed with any person who resides outside of this State, the placement must be in accordance with NRS 127.330.

8. Within 60 days after the removal of a child from the home of the child, the court shall:

(a) Determine whether:

(1) The agency which provides child welfare services has made the reasonable efforts required by paragraph (a) of subsection 1 of NRS 432B.393; or

(2) No such efforts are required in the particular case; and

(b) Prepare an explicit statement of the facts upon which its determination is based.

9. As used in this section:

(a) “Blind” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 426.082.

(b) “Fictive kin” means a person who is not related by blood to a child but who has a significant emotional and positive relationship with the child.

(c) “Holder of a valid registry identification card” means a person who holds a valid registry identification card as defined in NRS 678C.080 that identifies the person as:

(1) Exempt from state prosecution for engaging in the medical use of cannabis; or

(2) A designated primary caregiver as defined in NRS 678C.040.

(Added to NRS by 1985, 1383; A 1987, 1195; 1991, 1183, 1359, 1936; 1993, 468; 1999, 2040; 2001, 1261, 1847; 2001 Special Session, 51; 2003, 236; 2005, 2096; 2005, 22nd Special Session, 47; 2009, 216; 2011, 255; 2017, 675, 900; 2019, 2763, effective July 1, 2020)