The House Judiciary Committee heard SB 410 on kinship caregiver intervention, sponsored by Reps. Pressel and Jordan and authored by Sen. Bohacek. The legislation created a definition for “kinship caregiver” and permitted a kinship caregiver to petition to intervene in a CHINS or TPR proceeding. An amendment prepared by the Department of Child Services (DCS) was introduced to change the term “kinship caregiver” and instead create a definition for an “unlicensed caregiver” for the purpose of requesting intervention in a CHINS or delinquency case. The definition of unlicensed caregiver references the existing definition of a relative in Ind. Code § 31-9-2-107(c), which also includes an individual with whom the child has an established and significant relationship. An unlicensed caregiver is defined as a relative as defined under the Ind. Code § 31-9-2-107(c) who provides care and supervision to a child under a court order for purposes of placement in a CHINS or delinquency case and who is not licensed as a foster parent. The amendment was adopted by consent.
DCS testified in favor of the amendment. The Indiana Public Defender Council testified in favor of the legislation as amended. Judge Faith Graham, Tippecanoe Superior Court, and Chair of the Juvenile Justice Improvement Committee testified on the amendment to permit an unlicensed caregiver to request intervention in a CHINS or delinquency proceeding.
The bill passed the committee as amended, 10-0.
Read the bill at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2022/bills/senate/410