that such change is for the best interests of the child. However, when conflicting interests arise among
child placement agencies the court shall order the change of commitment of the child.
Article 154. Voluntary Commitment of a Child to an Institution. - The parent or guardian of a
dependent, abandoned or neglected child may voluntarily commit him to the Department of Social
Welfare or any duly licensed child placement agency or individual subject to the provisions of the next
succeeding articles.
Article 155. Commitment Must Be in Writing. - No child shall be committed pursuant to the preceding
article unless he is surrendered in writing by his parents or guardian to the care and custody of the
Department of Social Welfare or duly licensed child placement agency. In case of the death or legal
incapacity of either parent or abandonment of the child for a period of at least one year, the other
parent alone shall have the authority to make the commitment. The Department of Social Welfare, or
any proper and duly licensed child placement agency or individual shall have the authority to receive,
train, educate, care for or arrange appropriate placement of such child.
Article 156. Legal Custody. - When any child shall have been committed in accordance with the
preceding article and such child shall have been accepted by the Department of Social Welfare or any
duly licensed child placement agency or individual, the rights of his natural parents, guardian, or other
custodian to exercise parental authority over him shall cease.
Such agency or individual shall be entitled to the custody and control of such child during his minority,
and shall have authority to care for, educate, train and place him out temporarily or for custody and
care in a duly licensed child placement agency. Such agency or individual may intervene in adoption
proceedings in such manner as shall best inure to the child's welfare.
Article 157. Visitation or Inspection. - Any duly licensed child placement agency or individual receiving
a judicial order or by voluntary commitment by his parents or guardian shall be subject to visitation or
inspection by a representative of the court or of the Department of Social Welfare or both, as the case
may be.
Article 158. Report of Person or Institution. - Any duly licensed child placement agency or individual
receiving a child for commitment may at any time be required by the Department of Social Welfare to
submit a report, copy furnished the court, containing all necessary information for determining whether
the welfare of the child is being served.
Article 159. Temporary Custody of Child. - Subject to regulation by the Department of Social Welfare
and with the permission of the court in case of judicial commitment, the competent authorities of any
duly licensed child placement agency or individual to which a child has been committed may place him
in the care of any suitable person, at the latter's request, for a period not exceeding one month at a
time.
The temporary custody of the child shall be discontinued if it appears that he is not being given proper
care, or at his own request, or at the instance of the agency or person receiving him.
Article 160. Prohibited Acts. - It shall be unlawful for any child to leave the person or institution to
which he has been judicially or voluntarily committed or the person under whose custody he has been
placed in accordance with the next preceding article, or for any person to induce him to leave such
person or institution, except in case of grave physical or moral danger, actual or imminent, to the child.
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