The House Family, Children and Human Affairs Committee heard HB1183 authored by Rep. Frizzell on guardianship; department of child services. The bill allows a parent to delegate the guardianship powers for a period longer than 12 months if the parent is on active duty service, except that the term of delegation may not exceed the term of active duty service plus 30 days. The bill also prohibits a licensed foster family home from providing supervision to a child who is the subject of a power of attorney while providing overnight care to a child placed in the foster family home unless DCS grants an exception. The bill provides that DCS may provide information about community service programs that provide respite care, voluntary guardianship, or other support services for families in crisis to the parent or guardian of a child who is the subject of an assessment if DCS classifies the assessment as unsubstantiated, and if DCS provides the information to a parent or guardian, DCS may not initiate an investigation or assessment or substantiate an assessment of child abuse or neglect based solely on the provision of the information. Finally, the bill provides DCS is not liable for any action arising out of having furnished the information.
The Committee adopted an amendment by consent that clarifies the notice from foster families to DCS when taking in others into the household. After receiving supporting testimony from DCS and the public, the committee passed the amended bill 11-0.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2016/bills/house/1183