(a) As used in this section, and sections 17a-59 and 17a-59b:

(1) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Children and Families;

(2) “Department” means the Department of Children and Families;

(3) “Foster parent” means a person who, pursuant to section 17a-114, is (A) licensed by the department to care for one or more children in a private home, or (B) approved by a child-placing agency licensed by the department to care for one or more children in a private home;

(4) “Prospective adoptive parent” means a foster parent who is awaiting the placement of, or who has, a child or children placed in his or her home pursuant to section 17a-59 for purposes of adoption; and

(5) “Removal hearing” means an administrative proceeding conducted by the department in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to determine if the removal of a child from a prospective adoptive parent is in a child’s best interest.

(b) The department, after taking custody of an infant pursuant to section 17a-59 and placing the infant in the care and control of a prospective adoptive parent for thirty or more consecutive days, shall not remove the infant from such parent unless: (1) The department is in possession of specific allegations and other verified affirmations of fact that demonstrate there is reasonable cause to believe that (A) the infant is suffering from serious physical illness or serious physical injury or is in immediate physical danger, and (B) immediate removal from such parent is necessary to ensure the infant’s safety, (2) the prospective adoptive parent consents to the removal of the infant from his or her care and control, or (3) a biological parent of the infant has been identified and a request for reunification of such parent and the infant has been granted pursuant to an order by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(P.A. 17-18, S. 3.)