Introduced Version






SENATE BILL No. 325

_____


DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL



Citations Affected: IC 31-9-2-100.5 ; IC 31-34-21-7.3.

Synopsis: Internet posting of nonidentifying information. Provides that the division of family and children may post certain types of nonidentifying information on the Internet to facilitate the adoptive placement of certain children in need of services.

Effective: July 1, 2003.





Clark, Lanane




    January 15, 2003, read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary.







Introduced

First Regular Session 113th General Assembly (2003)


PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts between statutes enacted by the 2002 Regular or Special Session of the General Assembly.

SENATE BILL No. 325



    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning family law and juvenile law.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

    SECTION 1. IC 31-9-2-100.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2003]: Sec. 100.5. "Qualified adoptive parent", for purposes of IC 31-34-21-7.3 , means a person who has:
        (1) successfully completed all preadoptive training required by the division of family and children; and
        (2) been approved as a prospective adoptive parent for a child by:
            (A) the county office of family and children; or
            (B) a licensed child placing agency responsible for the care and supervision of the child.

    SECTION 2. IC 31-34-21-7.3 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2003]: Sec. 7.3. (a) This section applies after: to a child in need of services if:
        (1) a court authorizes the filing of a petition to terminate the parent-child relationship; or permanency plan meeting the requirements of section 7.5 of this chapter has ordered

placement of the child for adoption;
        (2) a petition to terminate the parent-child relationship is filed;
         (3) the child has not been placed with a prospective adoptive parent; and
        (4) a qualified adoptive parent has not expressed an interest in adopting the child to:

             (A) the county office of family and children; or
            (B) a licensed child placing agency that is responsible for the care and supervision of the child.

in relation to a child in need of services.
    (b) The division shall post the following nonidentifying information on the Internet to facilitate a potential adoptive placement of the child:
        (1) The child's age, gender, and summary of the child's educational, social, and medical background, including known disabilities.
        (2) The reason the child was removed from the child's home.
        (3) Whether a person has expressed an interest in adopting the child.
        (4) (3) The name, address, and telephone number of a contact person from the appropriate:
            (A) county office of family and children; or
            (B) licensed child placing agency;
        where a person who may be interested in adopting the child may obtain further information about adopting the child.
        (5) (4) Whether a petition to terminate the rights of the child's parents has been authorized or filed, and whether the rights of the child's parents have been terminated.
        (6) (5) An address and telephone number of the appropriate:
            (A) county office of family and children; or
            (B) licensed child placing agency;
        where a person who may be interested in adopting the child may obtain further information about adopting the child.
    (c) The information posted under subsection (a) (b) may not identify the name of any of the following persons:
        (1) The child.
        (2) The child's biological or adoptive parents.
        (3) A sibling of the child.
        (4) A caretaker of the child.
    (d) The division shall update any relevant information under this section after either of the following:
        (1) Each of the child's periodic reviews that occur after the information under this section is required to be posted.


        (2) The rights of the child's parents have been terminated.
    (e) The division shall remove the information required under subsections subsection (b) and (c) from the Internet whenever:
         (1) the child is reunited with the child's family;
         (2) the child has been placed with a prospective adoptive parent; or
        an (3) a petition for adoption of the child is filed under IC 31-19-2 ; or
        (4) a court changes a permanency plan for the child approved under section 7.5 of this chapter to an arrangement other than placement for adoption.

    (f) Upon request, a county office of family and children shall inform the person making the request of the address of the Internet Web site containing the information described in this section.