24. Whenever the director of welfare of any county or municipality in this State shall be called upon to serve any child whose needs cannot properly be provided for by financial assistance as made available by the laws of this State, the director shall, within 24 hours thereafter, give written notice thereof to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, and shall file an application for care or custody, as provided in section 11 of P.L.1951, c.138 (C. 30:4C-11), or shall file a complaint as provided in section 12 of P.L.1951, c.138 (C. 30:4C-12), or shall file a petition as provided in section 15 of P.L.1951, c.138 (C. 30:4C-15), as the situation of the child may require. The notice shall contain all available information concerning the child and the child’s circumstances, which will enable the Division of Child Protection and Permanency to take proper action. If the immediate needs of the child so require, the director shall provide for the child’s care in a suitable place, approved with reasonable promptness for that purpose by the division, paying therefor as a charge against county or municipal funds until such time as the child has been found eligible for care, custody, or guardianship in accordance with the provisions of P.L.1951, c.138 (C. 30:4C-1 et seq.).

L.1951, c.138, s.24; amended 1962, c.197, s.25; 2012, c.16, s.74.