For amend and vote only, the House Judiciary Committee heard HB 1172 pertaining to paternity actions authored by Rep. Clere, Rep. Devon, and Rep. Jackson. The bill allows a child to commence a child custody proceeding under certain circumstances and provides that a court having jurisdiction over a child who is the subject of a child in need of services proceeding or juvenile delinquency proceeding has concurrent jurisdiction with a court having jurisdiction over a paternity proceeding for the purpose of establishing or modifying paternity, custody, parenting time, or child support of the child. The bill also provides that a child who is, or will become, 12 years of age during the pendency of certain proceedings is entitled to representation by counsel. The bill further provides that an attorney serving as a child’s guardian ad litem or court appointed special advocate has a duty to request an independent guardian ad litem or court appointed special advocate for a child in certain circumstances.
The bill was amended by consent to remove that a child subject to certain cases who is or becomes at least 14 years of age during the pendency of the case is entitled to be represented by counsel if the child is placed in certain residential settings. The amendment also removed the provision that requires a child’s attorney who is also serving as the child’s guardian ad litem (GAL) or court appointed special advocate (CASA) to request the appointment of an independent GAL or CASA if the child’s interests differ from those advocated by the GAL or CASA.
The bill, as amended, passed, 12 – 0.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2023/bills/house/1172.