The House Judiciary Committee reheard Rep. Karickhoff’s HB 1245 on notice of adoption to grandparents. The bill provides that a grandparent of a child sought to be adopted is entitled to notice of pending adoption proceedings. The bill was amended by consent to clarify that grandparents with existing rights to petition for visitation under IC 31-17-5 are provided notice of the pending adoption but such notice is limited to the issue of visitation and may not be used to contest the adoption. The amendment also clarifies that a notice of adoption to a grandparent is not required if the child is in the care, custody or control of the Department of Child Services.
The amended bill passed 10-0.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2017/bills/house/1245