The recommendations for reforming the Department of Child Services will get a closer look from a legislative study committee this summer.
The House Judiciary Committee will review proposals to change the legal definitions of abuse and neglect, and who counts as a “caregiver” covered by the law.
An independent review ordered by Governor Holcomb found Indiana law forces D-C-S to review more cases than other states, while more than four out of five are ruled unproven. Indiana also takes more cases to court than most states. Legislators in both parties say they’re concerned about reports that many requests to remove children from the home are based on parental drug use and nothing else.
House Speaker Brian Bosma says the agency’s budget will get a full review in upcoming discussions of the next state budget.
