For amend and vote only, the Senate Appropriations Committee heard HB 1006 on the Department of Child Services (DCS) sponsored by Sen. Houchin. This bill:
- provides that an older youth who received foster care is eligible to receive collaborative care services until the individual becomes 21 years of age;
- provides that the caseload of a family case manager may not be more than: (1) 12 active cases relating to initial assessments; (2) 12 families in active cases relating to ongoing in-home services; or (3) 13 children in active cases relating to ongoing services who are in out-of-home placements;
- requires DCS to initiate an assessment immediately, but not later than two hours (rather than one hour, undercurrent law), after receiving a report of child abuse or neglect if DCS believes the child is in immediate danger of serious bodily harm.
- requires DCS to provide a report concerning an assessment or investigation of a report of suspected child abuse or neglect not later than 45 days after DCS initiates the assessment if the report of suspected child abuse or neglect was received from certain entities;
- provides that a child is a child in need of services if the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian has failed to supply the child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, or supervision: (1) when the parent, guardian, or custodian is financially able to do so; or (2) due to the failure, refusal, or inability of the parent, guardian, or custodian to seek financial or other reasonable means to do so.
The bill passed 13-0.
Read the bill at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2019/bills/house/1006