The Senate Judiciary Committee heard SB 402 on termination of parental rights authored by Sen. Becker. The bill provides the following:
- requires the Department of Child Services (Department) to file a petition for termination of parental rights if a child’s parent, guardian, or custodian accumulates a total of three instances of certain acts or omissions.
- adds to the list of allegations that satisfy the requirements for a petition for termination of parental rights an allegation that a child’s parent, guardian, or custodian has accumulated a total of three instances of certain acts or omissions.
- provides that a court may find that reasonable efforts to reunify a child with the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian are not required if the parent, guardian, or custodian accumulates a total of three instances of certain acts or omissions.
- requires that a predispositional report and progress reports are provided to: (1) a child, the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian; (2) a guardian ad litem or a court appointed special advocate; (3) a foster parent; and (4) an attorney representing a child’s parent, guardian, or custodian; not later than 48 hours before a hearing.
- requires a court to order a child’s parent, guardian, or custodian to submit to bimonthly drug screen tests to be conducted by, or on behalf of, the department, at times determined by the department if the court determines that use of a drug or controlled substance by a parent, guardian, or custodian was a factor that resulted in the child being adjudicated a child in need of services.
- requires the department to provide a monthly report to a foster parent concerning the status and any progress made by the child and the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian in a child in need of services proceeding that involves a child who is placed in the foster parent’s foster family home.
The bill was supported by a pastor from Newburgh, a resident from Evansville, a retired teacher from Evansville, and the Heartland Adoption Agency. The bill was opposed by a resident from Indianapolis who was a former foster child, the Indiana Public Defender Council, and the Marion County Public Defender Agency. The chair held the bill for a vote at the next meeting.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2018/bills/senate/402