Introduced Version
HOUSE BILL No. 1443
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 31-9-2; IC 31-28-8.
Synopsis: Eligibility for foster care maintenance payments. Provides
that an unlicensed kinship caregiver is entitled to receive maintenance
payments. Requires the department of child services (department) to
calculate a maintenance payment for an unlicensed kinship caregiver
in the same manner as a licensed foster parent. Allows the department
to require foster care training for unlicensed kinship caregivers to
receive maintenance payments.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Campbell
January 21, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Family, Children and
Human Affairs.
2025 IN 1443—LS 6089/DI 148 Introduced
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
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 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
HOUSE BILL No. 1443
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:
1 SECTION 1. IC 31-9-2-46.9, AS AMENDED BY P.L.172-2022,
2 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 46.9. "Foster family home", for purposes of
4 IC 31-27, IC 31-28-8, and IC 31-34-23-6, means a place where an
5 individual resides and provides care and supervision on a twenty-four
6 (24) hour basis to a child, as defined in section 13(d) of this chapter,
7 who is receiving care and supervision under a juvenile court order or
8 for purposes of placement.
9 SECTION 2. IC 31-9-2-76.9 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
10 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
11 1, 2025]: Sec. 76.9. "Maintenance payment", for purposes of
12 IC 31-28-8, means a payment for the cost of providing food,
13 clothing, shelter, daily supervision, school supplies, a child's
14 personal incidentals, liability insurance with respect to a child, a
15 reasonable amount for travel to a child's home for visitation, and
16 a reasonable amount for travel for a child to remain in the school
17 in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement.
2025 IN 1443—LS 6089/DI 148 2
1 SECTION 3. IC 31-9-2-131.7, AS AMENDED BY P.L.46-2024,
2 SECTION 7, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 131.7. "Unlicensed kinship caregiver", for
4 purposes of section 47 of this chapter, IC 31-32-2.5, IC 31-34-21-4.5,
5 and IC 31-28-7, and IC 31-28-8, means a relative (as defined by
6 section 107(c) of this chapter) who is:
7 (1) providing care and supervision to a child under a court order
8 for purposes of placement in a child in need of services case or
9 juvenile delinquency case; and
10 (2) not licensed as a foster parent under IC 31-27-4.
11 SECTION 4. IC 31-28-8 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS
12 A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
13 1, 2025]:
14 Chapter 8. Maintenance Payments
15 Sec. 1. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a foster family
16 home in Indiana must be licensed by the department in order for
17 the department to recommend placement of a child with a foster
18 family home or pay for the costs of the placement.
19 (b) An unlicensed kinship caregiver is entitled to receive a
20 maintenance payment without being a licensed foster parent or
21 providing care and supervision in a licensed foster family home.
22 Sec. 2. The department shall calculate a maintenance payment
23 for an unlicensed kinship caregiver in the same manner that the
24 department calculates maintenance payments for a licensed foster
25 parent.
26 Sec. 3. The department may require an unlicensed kinship
27 caregiver to attend foster care training to be eligible for a
28 maintenance payment.
2025 IN 1443—LS 6089/DI 148