The Senate Judiciary Committee heard SB 16 authored by Sen. Bohacek and Sen. Alting on guardians ad litem in adoption. This bill requires a court to appoint a guardian ad litem in an adoption proceeding if a parent of the child has an intellectual disability and is subject to a guardianship. The bill was amended by consent to establish a pilot guardian ad litem program for this purpose in LaPorte County, Marshall County, and Starke County.
The Indiana Public Defender Council testified in support of the bill. The amended bill passed 11-0.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2024/bills/senate/16