(1) The Department of Human Services may engage and make reasonable payment for services of persons to make available, maintain and operate shelter-care homes for the safekeeping of children taken into temporary custody pending investigation and disposition.

(2) The services, pursuant to specific prior authorization of the department, shall be deemed actually rendered if the shelter-care home is made available, maintained and operated to receive such children.

(3) As used in this section and ORS § 418.472, ‘shelter-care home’ means a certified foster home or a licensed facility contracted with by the Department of Human Services for the purpose of safekeeping of children taken into temporary custody pending investigation and disposition where the circumstances are such that the child need not be kept in secure custody. [1969 c.184 § 1; 1971 c.401 § 36; 1985 c.791 § 1; 2003 c.14 § 222]