The Senate Judiciary Committee heard HB 1363 concerning various Department of Child Services (DCS) changes sponsored by Sens. Walker and Koch. Rep. Young presented the bill, which removes the filing requirement for a verified parental participation petition before the juvenile court can proceed to disposition, makes certain changes regarding DCS changing a child’s out-of-home placement, and adds DCS employees to the list of individuals who may raise a defense for possession of child pornography for acts performed solely within the scope of the individual’s employment.
The bill was amended to:
- provide that the payment rate set by DCS for services during calendar year 2023 may not decrease by more than one percent of the payment rate for the same services provided in calendar year 2022
- specify that a child is a CHINS if the child is a victim of the offenses listed in Ind. Code § 31-34-1-2(b)(1) and the offense described in that subsection was committed by a parent, guardian, or custodian of the child
- insert the provisions from HB 1191 concerning child exploitation and child pornography.
DCS and several service providers testified in support and the Indiana Public Defender Council testified in opposition to the amendment to include HB 1191. The amended bill passed 7-1.
Read the bill at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2022/bills/house/1363