The House Judiciary Committee heard SB 179 pertaining to child support sponsored by Rep. Mayfield. The bill provides that: incarceration of a parent may not be considered voluntary unemployment in determining an amount to be ordered for support of a child, a court may modify the child support order, or approve a proposed modification, without holding a hearing if: (1) a petition … [Read more...] about Child support
children
Department of Child Services
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard HB 1406 sponsored by Sen. Bray on the Department of Child Services. The bill: clarifies the collection of past due annual support fees by the Child Support Bureau (Bureau) and the clerk of the circuit court; allows the Bureau and designated retail outlets to collect child support payments made in cash; allows the Bureau and the clerk of the c … [Read more...] about Department of Child Services
Maximum number of foster children
The House Family, Children and Human Affairs Committee heard SB 184 sponsored by Rep. Sullivan and Rep Judy on the maximum number of foster children. The bill increases the number of children who may be supervised in a foster family home from five to six. A representative from Indiana Association of Resources and Child Advocacy (IARCA) testified in favor of the bill. The bill passed … [Read more...] about Maximum number of foster children
Children in need of services.
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.
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