(a) If a child is free for adoption as provided in § 45a-725, and no appointment of a statutory parent has been made under § 17a-112 or § 45a-717, the Probate Court shall appoint a statutory parent for the child upon petition for appointment of a statutory parent by the guardian of the person of the child or a duly authorized officer of any child care facility or child-placing agency. The petition shall be filed in the Probate Court for the district in which the petitioner or child resides or in the district in which the main office or any local office of the petitioner or the proposed statutory parent is located. The statutory parent shall be the Commissioner of Children and Families or a child-placing agency. Notice of the proceeding shall be sent to the guardian of the person, the child, if age twelve or older, the petitioner, the Commissioner of Children and Families and the proposed statutory parent by first class mail not less than ten days before the date of the hearing. Notice is not required for any party who files in court a written waiver of notice.

(b) The statutory parent shall be the guardian of the person of the child, shall be responsible for the welfare of the child and the protection of the child’s interests and shall retain custody of the child until the child attains the age of eighteen unless, before that time, the child is legally adopted or committed to the Commissioner of Children and Families or a licensed child-placing agency.

(c) Any statutory parent may resign or be removed for good cause shown. Upon filing of a petition for the removal of a statutory parent or filing of a resignation of a statutory parent in the Probate Court in which the statutory parent was appointed, the court shall schedule a hearing, on the removal petition or resignation. Notice of such hearing shall be sent in accordance with § 45a-716, except that notice need not be sent to any parties whose rights have previously been terminated. At the hearing the court may accept the resignation, remove the statutory parent, or deny the petition for removal. If a statutory parent is removed or resigns, the Probate Court shall appoint a new statutory parent or a guardian of the person.