The House Judiciary Committee heard HB 1369 on family and juvenile matters authored by Rep. Julie McGuire. HB 1369 does the following: Rep. McGuire offered an amendment which defines the "act of rape" to include all forms of child molestation and sexual misconduct with a minor. The proposed amendment adds sexual misconduct with a minor as an offense that may be alleged in a … [Read more...] about Family and juvenile law matters
Juvenile
Reunification plan for a child in need of services
The Senate Family and Children Services Committee heard SB 171 on reunification plan for a child in need of services authored by Sen. Greg Walker. The bill amends the circumstances under which reasonable efforts to reunify a child with the child's parent, guardian, or custodian or preserve a child's family are not required. If passed as written, DCS will no longer be required to try … [Read more...] about Reunification plan for a child in need of services
Communication between caregivers and parents
The House Family, Children & Human Affairs Committee heard HB 1051 on communication between caregivers and parentsauthored by Rep. DeVon. The bill adds language providing that supporting and facilitating two-way communication between parents and foster parents or kinship caregivers is a state policy. The Indiana Association of Resources and Child Advocacy testified in … [Read more...] about Communication between caregivers and parents
DCS technical changes and adoption subsidies
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 … [Read more...] about DCS technical changes and adoption subsidies
Child advocacy centers
The House Family, Children & Human Affairs Committee heard HB 1123 on child advocacy centersauthored by Rep. DeVon. The bill provides that DCS may use a child advocacy center to coordinate a multidisciplinary team for responding to reports involving child abuse or neglect. The bill requires the child advocacy center to: The bill provides the child advocacy center's … [Read more...] about Child advocacy centers