The Senate Family & Children Services heard HB 1169 on sibling groups in family reunification plans sponsored by Sen. Kyle Walker, Sen, Greg Walker, and Sen. Jon Ford and authored by Rep. Schaibley. This bill requires a court, in determining whether reunification of a child with a parent, guardian, or custodian from whom the child has been removed is in the child’s best interest, to consider whether reunifying the child with the parent, guardian, or custodian will result in separation of the child from a sibling of the child, and if so, whether separating the child from the child’s sibling is in the child’s best interest.
The bill was amended by consent to expand when this consideration must be applied, so that it also applies for temporary removals. Representatives from Voice for Kids and Champions for Children testified in favor of the bill. The amended bill passed 7-0.
Read the bill at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2023/bills/house/1169