The House Family, Children & Human Affairs Committee heard HB 1064 on DCS technical changes and adoption subsidiesauthored by Rep. DeVon. The bill removes language regarding medical passports, relocates the definition of “foster youth” and defines “licensed kinship caregiver”. The bill further provides that DCS shall not make an out-of-home placement if the person has been convicted of a nonwaivable offense. The bill requires that if a child in foster care receives medical care, the person having custody of the child shall inform the provider that the child is in foster care and require a copy of the medical treatment record be sent to the local office. The bill removes the age requirement for eligibility and provides that a child who is a ward of the DCS is considered hard to place for purposes of eligibility for state adoption subsidies. The bill moves the priority for funding if funds are insufficient. Finally, the bill makes technical and conforming changes.
DCS testified in favor of the bill, which passed 9-0.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2024/bills/house/1064