First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
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between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
HOUSE ENROLLED ACT No. 1273
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 2-5-1.3-13, AS AMENDED BY P.L.9-2024,
SECTION 6, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 13. (a) A study committee shall study the issues
assigned by the legislative council that are within the subject matter for
the study committee, as described in section 4 of this chapter.
(b) In addition to the issues assigned under subsection (a), the
interim study committee on roads and transportation shall advise the
bureau of motor vehicles regarding the suitability of a special group (as
defined in IC 9-13-2-170) to receive a special group recognition license
plate for the special group (as defined in IC 9-13-2-170) for the first
time under IC 9-18.5-12-4 and the suitability of a special group (as
defined in IC 9-13-2-170) to continue participating in the special group
recognition license plate program under IC 9-18.5-12-5.
(c) In addition to the issues assigned under subsection (a), the
interim study committee on corrections and criminal code shall review
current trends with respect to criminal behavior, sentencing,
incarceration, and treatment and may:
(1) identify particular needs of the criminal justice system that can
be addressed by legislation; and
(2) prepare legislation to address the particular needs found by the
committee.
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(d) In each even-numbered year, in addition to the issues assigned
under subsection (a), the interim study committee on courts and the
judiciary shall review, consider, and make recommendations
concerning all requests for new courts, new judicial officers, and
changes in jurisdiction of existing courts. A request under this
subsection must include at least the following information to receive
full consideration by the committee:
(1) The level of community support for the change, including
support from the local fiscal body.
(2) The results of a survey that shall be conducted by the county
requesting the change, sampling members of the bar, members of
the judiciary, and local officials to determine needs and concerns
of existing courts.
(3) Whether the county is already using a judge or magistrate
from an overserved area of the judicial district.
(4) The relative severity of need based on the most recent
weighted caseload measurement system report published by the
office of judicial administration.
(5) Whether the county is using any problem solving court as
described in IC 33-23-16-11, and, if so, the list of problem solving
courts established in the county, and any evaluation of the impact
of the problem solving courts on the overall judicial caseload.
(6) A description of the:
(A) county's population growth in the ten (10) years before the
date of the request; and
(B) projected population growth in the county for the ten (10)
years after the date of the request, to the extent available;
and any documentation to support the information provided under
this subdivision.
(7) A description of the county's use of pre-incarceration
diversion services and post-incarceration reentry services in an
effort to decrease recidivism.
(8) If the request is a request for a new court or new courts, an
acknowledgment from the county fiscal body (as defined in
IC 36-1-2-6) with the funding sources and estimated costs the
county intends to pay toward the county's part of the operating
costs associated with the new court or new courts.
The office of judicial administration shall post the list of required
information provided under this subsection on its website.
(e) In each even-numbered year, in addition to the issues assigned
under subsection (a), the interim study committee on courts and the
judiciary shall review the most recent weighted caseload measurement
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system report published by the office of judicial administration and do
the following:
(1) Identify each county in which the number of courts or judicial
officers exceeds the number used by the county in that report
year.
(2) Determine the number of previous report years in which the
number of courts or judicial officers in a county identified in
subdivision (1) exceeded the number used by the county in that
particular report year.
(3) Make a recommendation on whether the number of courts or
judicial officers in the county should be decreased.
The office of judicial administration shall post a list of the number of
courts or judicial officers used in each county for each report year, and
the number of years in which the number of courts or judicial officers
in the county has exceeded the number used by the county, on its
website.
(f) In addition to studying the issues assigned under subsection (a),
the interim study committee on child services shall:
(1) review the annual reports submitted by:
(A) each local child fatality review team under IC 16-49-3-7;
(B) the statewide child fatality review committee under
IC 16-49-4-11; and
(C) the department of child services under IC 31-25-2-24;
during the immediately preceding twelve (12) month period, and
may make recommendations regarding changes in policies or
statutes to improve child safety; and
(2) report to the legislative council before November 1 of each
interim, in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6, the results of:
(A) the committee's review under subdivision (1); and
(B) the committee's study of any issue assigned to the
committee under subsection (a).
(g) In each even-numbered year, in addition to the issues assigned
under subsection (a), the interim study committee on government shall
do the following:
(1) Determine whether a group has met in the immediately
preceding two (2) years.
(2) Identify all interstate compacts that have been fully
operational for at least two (2) years to which the state is a party.
(3) Consider whether to:
(A) remain a party to; or
(B) withdraw from;
each interstate compact.
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(4) If the committee determines that the state should withdraw
from an interstate compact, identify the steps needed to withdraw.
(5) Report before November 1 to the legislative council, in an
electronic format under IC 5-14-6 the committee's:
(A) recommendations for proposed legislation to repeal groups
that have not met during the immediately preceding two (2)
years; and
(B) findings and recommendations regarding the interstate
compacts.
As used in this subsection, "group" refers to an authority, a board, a
commission, a committee, a council, a delegate, a foundation, a panel,
or a task force that is established by statute, has at least one (1)
legislator assigned to it, and is not staffed by the legislative services
agency.
(h) In 2026 and 2027, in addition to the issues assigned under
subsections (a) and (f), the interim study committee on child
services shall review the report submitted by the child welfare task
force under IC 2-5-55.7-8. This subsection expires December 31,
2027.
SECTION 2. IC 2-5-55.7 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2025]:
Chapter 55.7. Child Welfare Task Force
Sec. 1. (a) This chapter is subject to IC 2-5-1.2.
(b) As used in this chapter, "task force" refers to the child
welfare task force established by section 2 of this chapter.
Sec. 2. The child welfare task force is established.
Sec. 3. (a) The task force consists of the following twenty-two
(22) members, all of whom are voting members:
(1) Five (5) members of the senate, appointed as follows:
(A) Three (3) members appointed by the president pro
tempore, one (1) of whom serves as co-chair of the task
force.
(B) Two (2) members appointed by the minority leader.
(2) Five (5) members of the house of representatives,
appointed as follows:
(A) Three (3) members appointed by the speaker, one (1)
of whom serves as co-chair of the task force.
(B) Two (2) members appointed by the minority leader.
(3) One (1) member who is a judge appointed by the chief
justice of the supreme court.
(4) One (1) member appointed by the speaker who represents
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a child placing agency (as defined in IC 31-9-2-17.5).
(5) One (1) member appointed by the president pro tempore
who either:
(A) is an in-home provider; or
(B) provides family preservation services (as defined in
IC 31-9-2-44.8).
(6) One (1) member appointed by the speaker who represents
a:
(A) child caring institution (as defined in IC 31-9-2-16.7);
or
(B) private secure facility (as defined in IC 31-9-2-96.5).
(7) One (1) member appointed by the president pro tempore
who is a group home (as defined in IC 31-9-2-48.5) provider.
(8) One (1) member appointed by the speaker who is an older
foster youth services provider.
(9) One (1) member appointed by the president pro tempore
who is a preventative provider that runs a child welfare
program (as defined in IC 31-26-3.5-1).
(10) One (1) member appointed by the speaker who is at least
eighteen (18) years of age and who has lived experience as a
child within the child welfare system.
(11) One (1) member appointed by the president pro tempore
who is a juvenile probation officer.
(12) The director of the department of child services.
(13) A deputy director of the department of child services.
(14) The chief of staff or director of the division of mental
health and addiction.
(b) The president pro tempore shall designate one (1) member
appointed under subsection (a)(1)(A) to serve as a co-chair of the
task force for the duration of the task force.
(c) The speaker shall designate one (1) member appointed under
subsection (a)(2)(A) to serve as a co-chair of the task force for the
duration of the task force.
(d) A member of the task force serves at the will of the
member's appointing authority for the duration of the task force.
Sec. 4. (a) The task force shall meet at the call of the co-chairs.
(b) Twelve (12) members constitute a quorum.
(c) The affirmative votes of at least a majority of the members
of the task force are necessary for the task force to take official
action other than to meet and take testimony.
Sec. 5. (a) All task force meetings are open to the public in
accordance with and subject to IC 5-14-1.5.
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(b) All task force records are subject to the requirements of
IC 5-14-3.
Sec. 6. The task force shall study the following topics:
(1) The standards for child safety as it pertains to qualifying
as a child in need of services.
(2) The need for various types of child welfare services in
Indiana.
(3) The need for child welfare service providers in different
geographic regions throughout Indiana.
(4) Methods to assess the quality of child welfare services
offered.
(5) The reasonableness of time for a child in need of services
to reach permanency.
Sec. 7. The legislative services agency shall provide staff support
to the task force.
Sec. 8. (a) The task force shall submit two (2) reports to the
executive director of the legislative services agency, in an electronic
format under IC 5-14-6, for review by the interim study committee
on child services.
(b) A report described in subsection (a) must:
(1) be submitted not later than October 15, 2026, and must
include:
(A) the topics reviewed by the task force; and
(B) the task force's findings and recommendations;
for the period beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30,
2026; and
(2) be submitted not later than October 15, 2027, and must
include:
(A) the topics reviewed by the task force; and
(B) the task force's findings and recommendations;
for the period beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30,
2027.
Sec. 9. This chapter expires December 31, 2027.
HEA 1273 — Concur Speaker of the House of Representatives
President of the Senate
President Pro Tempore
Governor of the State of Indiana
Date: Time:
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