H.E.A. 1448, P.L. 203 Effective: July 1, 2021 Permits an individual who seeks to adopt a child less than 18 years of age to file a petition for adoption in any county in Indiana if either of the following is filed with the petition: (1) A written consent to the adoption from each individual whose consent to the adoption is required under Indiana law; (2) A certified copy of a … [Read more...] about Adoption
Department of Child Services
Child services oversight
S.E.A. 301, P.L. 148 Effective: April 29, 2021 Establishes the interim study committee on child services (committee). Provides that the committee: (1) shall review the annual reports submitted by local child fatality review teams and by the statewide child fatality review committee and shall report to the legislative council regarding the committee's review of the reports; and … [Read more...] about Child services oversight
State budget
H.E.A. 1001, P.L. 165 Effective: §§184-186 effective July 1, 2021 § 184-185 - Amends Ind. Code § 31-19-26.5-3 and 5 to require adoption subsidy payments for a child with special needs in therapeutic foster care to be not less than 50% of the per diem rate for the child in foster care. 186 Adds Ind. Code § 31-19-26.5-10 to require DCS in certain cases to enter into written agre … [Read more...] about State budget
DCS and the education community
H.E.A. 1531, P.L. 213 Effective: July 1, 2021 Defines "exigent circumstances" for purposes of action taken by the department of child services (DCS) with respect to a child. Allows DCS to interview a child at the child's school, except for at a nonaccredited nonpublic school with less than one employee, without parental consent if: (1) the DCS employee presents their credentials … [Read more...] about DCS and the education community
Department of Child Services
H.E.A. 1536, P.L. 214 Effective: July 1, 2021 Provides that if the governor declares a state of disaster emergency, the department of child services (department) may: (1) allow older youth who are receiving collaborative care services at the time of the declaration to continue to receive collaborative care services for the duration of the state of disaster emergency; and (2) modify … [Read more...] about Department of Child Services