KRS 610.012: Exclusive jurisdiction of District Court or family division of Circuit Court

concerning temporary detention of suspected runaway.

(1) The District Court or the family division of the Circuit Court shall have exclusive

jurisdiction of proceedings under this section.

(2) Proceedings to temporarily detain a child suspected of being a runaway by means of

an emergency protective custody order, pending further appropriate court action,

shall be initiated by filing a complaint with the court-designated worker.

(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a child who is suspected

of being a runaway may be detained in a nonsecure facility for a period of time not

to exceed seventy -two (72) hours, exclusive of weekends and holidays, or, if th e

court makes a finding on the record that no less restrictive alternative is available, in

a secure juvenile detention facility for a period of time not to exceed twenty -four

(24) hours, exclusive of weekends and holidays, pursuant to an ex parte emergenc y

protective order pending a court hearing to determine whether to return the child to

his or her custodian or give custody of the child to the cabinet.

(4) If, at the hearing held as provided for in subsection (3) of this section, the child is

not release d, the court shall issue an emergency custody order pursuant to KRS

Chapter 620 and place the child with the cabinet and the cabinet shall file a

dependency, neglect, or abuse action.

(5) All hearings subsequent to the issuance of an emergency custody orde r shall be in

accordance with KRS Chapter 620.

(6) If the child is released, except to the cabinet pursuant to an emergency custody

order, the court-designated worker shall initiate a status offense case.

(7) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a child coming under the purview

of KRS Chapter 615.