The Senate Family and Children Services Committee heard SB 381 authored by Sen. Messmer on children in need of services (CHINS). The author explained that when one child in the home is sexually abused, all children in the home are removed; however, if one child is physically abused, not all children are removed. The bill amends Ind. Code § 31-34-1-2, to provide the child and other … [Read more...] about Children in need of services.
Family
Termination of parental rights
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard SB 402 on termination of parental rights, authored by Sen. Becker. The Committee heard the bill for amend and vote only. The bill was amended by consent to remove all provisions of the bill except for the provisions requiring the pre-dispositional report to be made available 48 hours before a hearing. The amended bill passed 8-0 Read the bill at … [Read more...] about Termination of parental rights
Department of Child Services
The Senate Family and Children Services Committee heard SB 428 authored by Sen. Zay on Department of Child Services (DCS). The bill requires the local school to participate in a case conference in a CHINS case when DCS prepares a pre-disposition report and requires DCS to share drug test results. Two local school representatives discussed a case in which a severely ill child was … [Read more...] about Department of Child Services
Immunity for reports of suspected abuse or neglect
For amend and vote only, the Senate Civil Law Committee heard SB 431 authored by Sen. L. Brown on immunity for reports of suspected abuse or neglect. The bill provides immunity from civil and criminal liability for a person who assists with or participates, and a health care provider who provides professional intervention in an investigation by the Department of Child Services … [Read more...] about Immunity for reports of suspected abuse or neglect
Department of Child Services
The House Judiciary Committee heard HB 1406 authored by Rep. Mayfield on the Department of Child Services. The bill updates and revises Indiana law to ensure consistency with federal law on child support. Testimony was heard in support of the amended bill from the Child Support Bureau. The bill amended passed 10-0. Read the bill at h … [Read more...] about Department of Child Services