The House Committee on Family, Children and Human Affairs heard HB 1340 authored by Rep. DeVon on the Department of Child Services. This is the DCS agency bill, which does the following:
- Defines “Indian child” for purposes of family and juvenile law provisions.
- Provides that certain records relating to foster care children may be maintained in electronic format.
- Provides that certain individuals may request a child’s Social Security number for income tax purposes.
- Requires the department of child services (department) to: (1) develop forms for use by individuals to request a child’s Social Security number; and (2) approve or deny a request not later than 10 business days after receiving the request.
- Requires the department to approve a request if: (1) the child lived with the individual making the request in the 18 months preceding the request; and (2) the child lived with the individual making the request for: (A) at least six months in any one calendar year; or (B) more than 1/2 of the days the child lived in the calendar year if the child was born or died in the calendar year.
- Requires the department to deny a request if: (1) the child does not have a Social Security number; (2) the department does not have a record of the child’s Social Security number; or (3) certain conditions related to the foster care time frame are not met.
- Provides that certain information, documents, reports, pictures, videos, images, or recordings related to department matters are confidential.
- Requires that otherwise confidential information must be made available to: (1) a tribal representative, agency, or organization authorized by the Indian child’s tribe to care for, diagnose, treat, review, evaluate, or monitor active efforts regarding an Indian child, and the Indian child’s parent, guardian, or custodian; and (2) the United States Department of State and foreign governments to comply with federal law and treaties.
- Allows the department to notify a child care worker’s employer of a substantiated report against the child care worker.
- Requires the department to notify a childcare worker’s employer in certain circumstances.
The Department of Child Services testified to explain the bill and answer questions.
The bill passed 12-0.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2023/bills/house/1340