Title 31, FAMILY LAW AND JUVENILE LAW

Sec. 6. (a) The adoption history fund is established for the purpose of carrying out this chapter and IC 31-19-19 through IC 31-19-25.5. The state registrar shall administer the fund. (b) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from: (1) money in the fund; or (2) if …

Sec. 7. A person who knowingly transmits false information to an adoption history commits a Class A misdemeanor. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-3-4-19(a).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.

Sec. 1. (a) Except as provided in sections 1.5 and 1.6 of this chapter and IC 31-33-18.5, the following are confidential: (1) Reports made under this article (or IC 31-6-11 before its repeal). (2) Any other information, documents, reports, pictures, videos, images, or recordings …

Sec. 1.5. (a) This section applies to records held by: (1) a local office; (2) the department; or (3) the department of child services ombudsman established by IC 4-13-19-3; regarding a child fatality or near fatality that may have been the result of abuse, abandonment, or neglec…

Sec. 1.6. (a) As used in this section, "state legislator" means: (1) a member of the United States Congress representing Indiana; or (2) a member of the general assembly; acting in the member's official capacity. (b) The department shall disclose information that: (1) concerns al…

Sec. 2. Except as otherwise prohibited by federal law, the reports and other material described in section 1(a) of this chapter and the unredacted reports and other material described in section 1(b) of this chapter shall be made available only to the following: (1) Persons autho…

Sec. 3. (a) Section 2 of this chapter does not prevent the local office or the department from disclosing to a qualified individual engaged in a good faith research project either: (1) information of a general nature, including the incidents of reported child abuse or neglect or …

Sec. 4. (a) Whenever a child abuse or neglect assessment is conducted under this article, the department shall give verbal and written notice to each parent, guardian, or custodian of the child that: (1) the reports and information described under section 1 of this chapter relati…

Sec. 5. (a) Except as provided in IC 31-33-18.5, an audio recording of a telephone call to the child abuse hotline is confidential and may be released only upon court order. (b) An audio recording of a report of child abuse or neglect that is the subject of a complaint made to a …

Sec. 6. For the purposes of IC 31-26-4.5, the department may certify or acknowledge that an individual qualifies as a foster youth under IC 31-9-2.1-110(b). As added by P.L.59-2022, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.46-2024, SEC.17; P.L.67-2026, SEC.6; P.L.145-2026, SEC.198.

Sec. 7. (a) Subject to subsection (b), the department may notify a child care worker's employer that a substantiated report for child abuse or neglect has been entered against the child care worker if the department: (1) enters a new substantiated report against an individual tha…

Sec. 1. (a) Upon finding that a child is a child in need of services, the juvenile court shall order the department or a caseworker to prepare a predispositional report that contains a: (1) statement of the needs of the child for care, treatment, rehabilitation, or placement; and…

Sec. 1.1. (a) The person preparing the report under section 1 of this chapter: (1) may; or (2) if directed by the court, shall; confer with individuals who have expertise in professional areas related to the child's needs in the areas of appropriate care, treatment, rehabilitatio…

Sec. 1.2. If a child in need of services is known to be eligible for special education services or placement under IC 20-35 and 511 IAC 7, the conference described in section 1.1 of this chapter must include a representative from the child's school. As added by P.L.55-1997, SEC.1…

Sec. 1.3. (a) The individuals participating in a meeting described in section 1.1 of this chapter shall assist the person preparing the report in recommending the care, treatment, rehabilitation, or placement of the child. (b) The individuals shall inform the person preparing the…

Sec. 2. (a) In addition to providing the court with a recommendation for the care, treatment, or rehabilitation of the child, the person preparing the report shall consider the necessity, nature, and extent of the participation by a parent, guardian, or custodian in a program of …

Sec. 3. The department or caseworker shall also prepare a financial report on the parent or the estate of the child to assist the juvenile court in determining the person's financial responsibility for services provided for the child or the person. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citati…

Sec. 4. If consistent with the safety and best interest of the child and the community, the person preparing the report shall recommend care, treatment, rehabilitation, or placement that: (1) is: (A) in the least restrictive (most family like) and most appropriate setting availab…

Sec. 5. The juvenile court may do the following: (1) Authorize any examination of the child under IC 31-32-12. (2) Make provision for similar examination of the parent, guardian, or custodian if the person gives consent. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-15(e) part.] As a…

Sec. 6. (a) Predispositional reports shall be made available at least forty-eight (48) hours before the dispositional hearing, unless the juvenile court determines on the record that the reports contain information that should not be released to the child or the child's parent, g…

Sec. 6.1. (a) The predispositional report prepared by the department or caseworker must include the following information: (1) A description of all dispositional options considered in preparing the report. (2) An evaluation of each of the options considered in relation to the pla…

Sec. 1. The juvenile court shall hold a dispositional hearing to consider the following: (1) Alternatives for the care, treatment, rehabilitation, or placement of the child. (2) The necessity, nature, and extent of the participation by a parent, a guardian, or a custodian in the …

Sec. 1.1. (a) At a dispositional hearing under this chapter, the person that prepared the predispositional report or a probation officer described in subsection (b): (1) must be present; and (2) must present testimony when requested to explain how the individuals participating in…

Sec. 1.3. (a) The prosecuting attorney or probation department of the juvenile court shall provide notice of the date, time, place, and purpose of the dispositional hearing under this chapter to each: (1) party or person for whom a summons is required to be issued under IC 31-37-…

Sec. 2. (a) Any predispositional report may be admitted into evidence to the extent that the report contains evidence of probative value even if the report would otherwise be excluded. (b) If a report contains information that should not be released to the child or the child's pa…

Sec. 3. If it appears to the juvenile court that a child has a mental illness, the court may: (1) refer the matter to the court having probate jurisdiction for civil commitment proceedings under IC 12-26; or (2) initiate a civil commitment proceeding under IC 12-26. [Pre-1997 Rec…

Sec. 4. If: (1) a child is referred to a probate court; (2) the juvenile court initiates a commitment proceeding; or (3) the court transfers a commitment proceeding under IC 12-26-1-4; the juvenile court shall discharge the child or continue the court's proceedings under the juve…

Sec. 5. If the court authorizes a child who is under the custody or supervision of the department to be placed in a state institution (as defined in IC 12-7-2.1-318) for voluntary treatment in accordance with IC 12-26-3, the court may not release the department from obligations o…

Sec. 6. If consistent with the safety of the community and the best interest of the child, the juvenile court shall enter a dispositional decree that: (1) is: (A) in the least restrictive (most family like) and most appropriate setting available; and (B) close to the parents' hom…

Sec. 7. The juvenile court shall send a copy of the dispositional report described in section 10 of this chapter to each person who receives placement or wardship of the child. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-15.3(g) part.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.20.

Sec. 8. The juvenile court shall advise the child and the child's parent, guardian, or custodian of the procedures under IC 31-37-22. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-15.3(h) part.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.20.

Sec. 9. (a) The juvenile court shall accompany the court's dispositional decree with written findings and conclusions upon the record concerning approval, modification, or rejection of the dispositional recommendations submitted in the predispositional report, including the follo…

Sec. 1. A court or Title IV-D agency shall give full faith and credit to a paternity determination made by another state or foreign jurisdiction regardless of whether the determination is made through: (1) a voluntary acknowledgment; or (2) a judicial or an administrative process…

Sec. 1. (a) If: (1) an individual, by the terms of a court order or decree, is ordered to pay support money to or for the dependent wife, husband, father, or mother of the individual; and (2) the: (A) dependents are being supported in whole or in part by public money; or (B) pare…

Sec. 2. If the court enters a decree or an order under section 1(a) of this chapter, the clerk shall: (1) immediately set up an appropriate account system in the case; and (2) maintain a continuous record of the payments to each account. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-2-2-…

Sec. 0.5. (a) This section does not apply to a confidential intermediary appointed under IC 31-19-24. (b) Except as provided in subsection (c) or (d), a person that is required to store, maintain, or release adoption records or other adoption information under IC 31-19-12-5, IC 3…

Sec. 1. (a) The following items are confidential: (1) A petition for adoption. (2) Reports of the investigation made under IC 31-19-8-5 (or IC 31-3-1-4 before its repeal). (3) All other papers filed in connection with a petition for adoption. (4) The record of evidence of the hea…

Sec. 2. (a) All files and records pertaining to the adoption proceedings in: (1) the local office; (2) the department; or (3) any of the licensed child placing agencies; are confidential and open to inspection only as provided in IC 31-19-13-2(2), IC 31-19-17, this chapter, or IC…

Sec. 3. Notwithstanding any other law, the information located in the adoption history may not be disclosed under: (1) IC 5-14-3; or (2) any freedom of information: (A) legislation; (B) rules; or (C) practice. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-3-4-20.] As added by P.L.1-1997,…

Sec. 4. All papers, records, and information pertaining to the adoption, whether part of: (1) the permanent record of the court; or (2) a file in: (A) the division of vital records; (B) the department or local office; (C) a licensed child placing agency; or (D) a professional hea…

Sec. 5. (a) An employer or any person administering adoption records who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally: (1) discloses any confidential information relating to any adoption except as provided in IC 31-19-17, this chapter, or IC 31-19-20 through IC 31-19-25.5; or (2) allo…

Sec. 1. (a) The juvenile court shall complete a dispositional hearing not more than thirty (30) days after the date the court finds that a child is a child in need of services to consider the following: (1) Alternatives for the care, treatment, rehabilitation, or placement of the…

Sec. 1.1. At a dispositional hearing under this chapter, the person that prepared the predispositional report: (1) must be present, if possible; and (2) if present, shall provide testimony when requested to explain how the individuals participating in the conference described in …

Sec. 1.3. (a) The department shall provide notice of the date, time, place, and purpose of the dispositional hearing under this chapter to each: (1) party or person for whom a summons is required to be issued under IC 31-34-10-2; and (2) foster parent or other caretaker with whom…

Sec. 10. (a) The juvenile court shall accompany the court's dispositional decree with written findings and conclusions upon the record concerning the following: (1) The needs of the child for care, treatment, rehabilitation, or placement, including any specific factors used to de…

Sec. 2. (a) Any predispositional report may be admitted into evidence to the extent that the report contains evidence of probative value even if the report would otherwise be excluded. (b) If a report contains information that should not be released to the child or the child's pa…