Indiana 2025 Regular Session

Indiana Senate Bill SB0205 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	Introduced Version
3	3	SENATE BILL No. 205
4	4	_____
5	5	DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
6	6	Citations Affected: IC 4-6; IC 4-13; IC 16-49-4; IC 31-25-5-1;
7	7	IC 31-27; IC 31-33; IC 31-39; IC 34-30-2.1.
8	8	Synopsis: Department of child services ombudsman. Transfers the
9	9	office of the department of child services ombudsman from the
10	10	department of administration to the office of the attorney general.
11	11	Effective: July 1, 2025.
12	12	Tomes
13	13	January 8, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Family and Children
14	14	Services.
15	15	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 Introduced
16	16	First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
17	17	PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
18	18	Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
19	19	additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
20	20	Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
21	21	provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
22	22	word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
23	23	a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
24	24	Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
25	25	between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
26	26	SENATE BILL No. 205
27	27	A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning state
28	28	offices and administration.
29	29	Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
30	30	1 SECTION 1. IC 4-6-2-13 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
31	31	2 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
32	32	3 1, 2025]: Sec. 13. The attorney general shall:
33	33	4 (1) administer; and
34	34	5 (2) determine salaries and other personnel matters of;
35	35	6 the office of the department of child services ombudsman
36	36	7 established by IC 4-6-17-4.
37	37	8 SECTION 2. IC 4-6-17 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS
38	38	9 A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
39	39	10 1, 2025]:
40	40	11 Chapter 17. Department of Child Services Ombudsman
41	41	12 Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "child" means a person who:
42	42	13 (1) is less than eighteen (18) years of age;
43	43	14 (2) is at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time a complaint
44	44	15 is made but was less than eighteen (18) years of age at the
45	45	16 time of the alleged act or omission that is the subject of the
46	46	17 complaint; or
47	47	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 2
48	48	1 (3) is at least eighteen (18) years of age but has been under the
49	49	2 continuing jurisdiction of a juvenile court based upon an
50	50	3 informal adjustment, child in need of services action under
51	51	4 IC 31-34, or termination of parental rights action under
52	52	5 IC 31-35 since becoming eighteen (18) years of age.
53	53	6 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "office" refers to the office of the
54	54	7 department of child services ombudsman established by section 4
55	55	8 of this chapter.
56	56	9 Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "ombudsman" means the person
57	57	10 appointed by the governor to serve as the department of child
58	58	11 services ombudsman under section 5 of this chapter.
59	59	12 Sec. 4. The office of the department of child services
60	60	13 ombudsman is established as a separate bureau within the office of
61	61	14 the attorney general.
62	62	15 Sec. 5. (a) The governor shall appoint the ombudsman.
63	63	16 (b) The ombudsman serves at the pleasure of the governor.
64	64	17 (c) The individual appointed as ombudsman must:
65	65	18 (1) be an attorney licensed to practice law in Indiana or a
66	66	19 social worker with at least a master's degree; and
67	67	20 (2) have significant experience or education in child
68	68	21 development and child advocacy, including at least two (2)
69	69	22 years of experience working with cases of child abuse and
70	70	23 neglect.
71	71	24 (d) An individual may not be appointed as ombudsman if the
72	72	25 individual has been employed by the department of child services
73	73	26 at any time during the preceding twelve (12) months.
74	74	27 (e) The governor shall appoint a successor ombudsman not later
75	75	28 than thirty (30) days after a vacancy occurs in the position of
76	76	29 ombudsman.
77	77	30 Sec. 6. (a) The ombudsman reports directly to the attorney
78	78	31 general.
79	79	32 (b) The office:
80	80	33 (1) shall employ at least two (2) full-time employees to assist
81	81	34 the ombudsman with receiving, investigating, and attempting
82	82	35 to resolve complaints described in section 7 of this chapter;
83	83	36 and
84	84	37 (2) may employ technical experts and other employees to
85	85	38 carry out the purposes of this chapter.
86	86	39 (c) The office may not employ an individual if the individual has
87	87	40 been employed by the department of child services during the
88	88	41 preceding twelve (12) months.
89	89	42 (d) The ombudsman and any other person employed by the
90	90	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 3
91	91	1 office or authorized by the ombudsman to act on behalf of the
92	92	2 office:
93	93	3 (1) shall submit to the same criminal history and background
94	94	4 checks, to be performed by the department of child services,
95	95	5 that are required for department of child services family case
96	96	6 managers; and
97	97	7 (2) are subject to disqualification for employment criteria in
98	98	8 the same manner as department of child services family case
99	99	9 managers.
100	100	10 Sec. 7. (a) The office may receive, investigate, and attempt to
101	101	11 resolve complaints alleging that the department of child services,
102	102	12 by an action or omission occurring on or after January 11, 2005,
103	103	13 failed to protect the physical or mental health or safety of any child
104	104	14 or failed to follow specific laws, rules, or written policies.
105	105	15 (b) The office may also do the following:
106	106	16 (1) Take action, including by establishing a program of public
107	107	17 education, to secure and ensure the legal rights of children.
108	108	18 (2) When appropriate, refer a person making a report of child
109	109	19 abuse or neglect to the department of child services and, if
110	110	20 appropriate, to an appropriate law enforcement agency.
111	111	21 (3) Recommend changes in procedures for investigating
112	112	22 reports of abuse and neglect and overseeing the welfare of
113	113	23 children who are under the jurisdiction of a juvenile court.
114	114	24 (4) Make the public aware of the services of the ombudsman,
115	115	25 the purpose of the office, and information concerning
116	116	26 contacting the office.
117	117	27 (5) Examine policies and procedures relevant to the safety and
118	118	28 welfare of children and evaluate the effectiveness of the child
119	119	29 protection system, particularly the respective roles of the
120	120	30 department of child services, the courts, the medical
121	121	31 community, service providers, guardians ad litem, court
122	122	32 appointed special advocates, and law enforcement agencies.
123	123	33 (6) Review and make recommendations concerning
124	124	34 investigative procedures and emergency responses contained
125	125	35 in the report prepared under section 12 of this chapter.
126	126	36 (c) Upon request of the office, a local child protection team that
127	127	37 was not involved in the initial investigation of a matter shall assist
128	128	38 the office by investigating and making recommendations on the
129	129	39 matter.
130	130	40 (d) At the end of an investigation of a complaint, the office shall
131	131	41 provide an appropriate report as follows:
132	132	42 (1) If the complainant is a parent, guardian, custodian, court
133	133	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 4
134	134	1 appointed special advocate, guardian ad litem, or court, the
135	135	2 office may provide the same report to the complainant and to
136	136	3 the department of child services.
137	137	4 (2) If the complainant is not a person described in subdivision
138	138	5 (1), the office shall provide a redacted version of the office's
139	139	6 findings to the complainant, stating in general terms that the
140	140	7 actions of the department of child services were or were not
141	141	8 appropriate.
142	142	9 (3) The office shall provide a copy of the report and the
143	143	10 office's recommendations regarding the complaint to the
144	144	11 department of child services.
145	145	12 (e) The office may not disclose to:
146	146	13 (1) a complainant;
147	147	14 (2) another person who is not a parent, guardian, or custodian
148	148	15 of the child who was the subject of the department of child
149	149	16 services' action or omission; or
150	150	17 (3) the court, court appointed special advocate, or guardian
151	151	18 ad litem of the child in a case that was filed as a child in need
152	152	19 of services or termination of parental rights action;
153	153	20 any information that the department of child services could not, by
154	154	21 law, reveal to the complainant, person, court, court appointed
155	155	22 special advocate, or guardian ad litem.
156	156	23 (f) If, after reviewing a complaint or conducting an investigation
157	157	24 and considering the response of an agency, facility, or program and
158	158	25 any other pertinent material, the office determines that the
159	159	26 complaint has merit or the investigation reveals a problem, the
160	160	27 office may recommend that the agency, facility, or program:
161	161	28 (1) consider the matter further;
162	162	29 (2) modify or cancel the agency's, facility's, or program's
163	163	30 action;
164	164	31 (3) alter a rule, order, or internal policy; or
165	165	32 (4) explain the agency's, facility's, or program's action more
166	166	33 fully.
167	167	34 (g) At the office's request, the agency, facility, or program shall,
168	168	35 within a reasonable time, inform the office of the agency's,
169	169	36 facility's, or program's:
170	170	37 (1) action taken on the office's recommendation; or
171	171	38 (2) reasons for not complying with the office's
172	172	39 recommendation.
173	173	40 (h) The office may not investigate a complaint from an employee
174	174	41 of the department of child services that relates to the employee's
175	175	42 employment relationship with the department of child services.
176	176	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 5
177	177	1 (i) The office may not investigate a complaint challenging a
178	178	2 department of child services substantiation of abuse or neglect that
179	179	3 is the subject of a pending administrative review until:
180	180	4 (1) the administrative remedies provided by law, rule, or
181	181	5 written policy have been exhausted; or
182	182	6 (2) the expiration of six (6) months after the initiation of the
183	183	7 administrative review, if the administrative review is not
184	184	8 completed or terminated within six (6) months after its
185	185	9 initiation;
186	186	10 whichever occurs first.
187	187	11 (j) If the office does not investigate a complaint, the office shall
188	188	12 notify the complainant of the office's decision not to investigate and
189	189	13 the reasons for the decision.
190	190	14 Sec. 8. (a) The department of child services shall give the office
191	191	15 appropriate access to department of child services records of a
192	192	16 child who is the subject of a complaint that is filed with the office.
193	193	17 (b) A state or local government agency or entity that has records
194	194	18 that are relevant to a complaint or an investigation conducted by
195	195	19 the office shall provide the office with access to the records.
196	196	20 (c) A person is immune from:
197	197	21 (1) civil or criminal liability; and
198	198	22 (2) actions authorized under:
199	199	23 (A) a professional disciplinary procedure; or
200	200	24 (B) procedures related to the termination or imposition of
201	201	25 penalties under a contract with an employee or contractor
202	202	26 of the department of child services;
203	203	27 for the release or disclosure of records to the office under this
204	204	28 chapter, unless the release or disclosure constitutes gross
205	205	29 negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
206	206	30 (d) Information or records of a state or local government agency
207	207	31 provided to the office may not be disclosed to the complainant or
208	208	32 others if the information or records are confidential under laws,
209	209	33 rules, or regulations governing the state or local government
210	210	34 agency that provided the information or records.
211	211	35 Sec. 9. The office shall do the following:
212	212	36 (1) Establish procedures to receive and investigate complaints
213	213	37 under section 7 of this chapter.
214	214	38 (2) Establish physical, technological, and administrative
215	215	39 access controls for all information maintained by the office.
216	216	40 (3) Except as necessary to investigate and resolve a complaint,
217	217	41 ensure that the identity of a complainant will not be disclosed
218	218	42 without:
219	219	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 6
220	220	1 (A) the complainant's written consent; or
221	221	2 (B) a court order.
222	222	3 Sec. 10. The office may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 necessary
223	223	4 to carry out this chapter.
224	224	5 Sec. 11. (a) The ombudsman is not personally liable for the good
225	225	6 faith performance of the ombudsman's official duties.
226	226	7 (b) An employee of the office is not personally liable for the good
227	227	8 faith performance of the employee's official duties.
228	228	9 Sec. 12. (a) The office shall prepare a report each year on the
229	229	10 operations of the office.
230	230	11 (b) The office shall include the following information in the
231	231	12 annual report required under subsection (a):
232	232	13 (1) A description of the office's activities.
233	233	14 (2) The general status of children in Indiana, including:
234	234	15 (A) the health and education of children; and
235	235	16 (B) the administration or implementation of programs for
236	236	17 children.
237	237	18 (3) Any other issues, concerns, or information concerning
238	238	19 children.
239	239	20 (c) A copy of the report shall be provided to the following:
240	240	21 (1) The governor.
241	241	22 (2) The legislative council.
242	242	23 (3) The Indiana department of administration.
243	243	24 (4) The department of child services.
244	244	25 A report provided to the legislative council under this subsection
245	245	26 must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
246	246	27 (d) The department of child services shall post a copy of the
247	247	28 report on the department of child services' website. The office shall
248	248	29 post a copy of the report on any website maintained by the office.
249	249	30 Sec. 13. A person who interferes with the ombudsman is subject
250	250	31 to criminal prosecution under IC 35-44.2-1-5.
251	251	32 Sec. 14. The office of the attorney general shall provide and
252	252	33 maintain office space for the office.
253	253	34 Sec. 15. (a) As used in this section, "succeeded office" refers to
254	254	35 the office of department of child services ombudsman established
255	255	36 by IC 4-13-19-3 (before its repeal).
256	256	37 (b) On July 1, 2025, all powers, duties, agreements, and
257	257	38 liabilities of the succeeded office are transferred to the office, as the
258	258	39 successor agency.
259	259	40 (c) On July 1, 2025, all records and property of the succeeded
260	260	41 office, including appropriations and other funds under the control
261	261	42 or supervision of the succeeded office, are transferred to the office,
262	262	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 7
263	263	1 as the successor agency.
264	264	2 (d) After June 30, 2025, any amounts owed to the succeeded
265	265	3 office before July 1, 2025, are considered to be owed to the office,
266	266	4 as the successor agency.
267	267	5 (e) After June 30, 2025, a reference to the succeeded office in a
268	268	6 statute, rule, or other document is considered a reference to the
269	269	7 office, as the successor agency.
270	270	8 (f) On July 1, 2025:
271	271	9 (1) the department of child services ombudsman serving on
272	272	10 June 30, 2025; and
273	273	11 (2) all individuals employed by the succeeded office on June
274	274	12 30, 2025;
275	275	13 become employees of the office, without change in compensation,
276	276	14 seniority, or benefits and are entitled to have their service under
277	277	15 the succeeded office included for purposes of computing any
278	278	16 applicable employment and retirement benefits.
279	279	17 SECTION 3. IC 4-13-1-4, AS AMENDED BY P.L.189-2018,
280	280	18 SECTION 11, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
281	281	19 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 4. The department shall, subject to this chapter,
282	282	20 do the following:
283	283	21 (1) Execute and administer all appropriations as provided by law,
284	284	22 and execute and administer all provisions of law that impose
285	285	23 duties and functions upon the executive department of
286	286	24 government, including executive investigation of state agencies
287	287	25 supported by appropriations and the assembly of all required data
288	288	26 and information for the use of the executive department and the
289	289	27 legislative department.
290	290	28 (2) Supervise and regulate the making of contracts by state
291	291	29 agencies.
292	292	30 (3) Perform the property management functions required by
293	293	31 IC 4-20.5-6.
294	294	32 (4) Assign office space and storage space for state agencies in the
295	295	33 manner provided by IC 4-20.5-5.
296	296	34 (5) Maintain and operate the following for state agencies:
297	297	35 (A) Central duplicating.
298	298	36 (B) Printing.
299	299	37 (C) Machine tabulating.
300	300	38 (D) Mailing services.
301	301	39 (E) Centrally available supplemental personnel and other
302	302	40 essential supporting services.
303	303	41 The department may require state agencies to use these general
304	304	42 services in the interests of economy and efficiency. The general
305	305	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 8
306	306	1 services rotary fund is established through which these services
307	307	2 may be rendered to state agencies. The budget agency shall
308	308	3 determine the amount for the general services rotary fund.
309	309	4 (6) Control and supervise the acquisition, operation, maintenance,
310	310	5 and replacement of state owned vehicles by all state agencies. The
311	311	6 department may establish and operate, in the interest of economy
312	312	7 and efficiency, a motor vehicle pool, and may finance the pool by
313	313	8 a rotary fund. The budget agency shall determine the amount to
314	314	9 be deposited in the rotary fund.
315	315	10 (7) Promulgate and enforce rules relative to the travel of officers
316	316	11 and employees of all state agencies when engaged in the
317	317	12 performance of state business. These rules may allow
318	318	13 reimbursement for travel expenses by any of the following
319	319	14 methods:
320	320	15 (A) Per diem.
321	321	16 (B) For expenses necessarily and actually incurred.
322	322	17 (C) Any combination of the methods in clauses (A) and (B).
323	323	18 The rules must require the approval of the travel by the
324	324	19 commissioner and the head of the officer's or employee's
325	325	20 department prior to payment.
326	326	21 (8) Administer IC 4-13.6.
327	327	22 (9) Prescribe the amount and form of certified checks, deposits,
328	328	23 or bonds to be submitted in connection with bids and contracts
329	329	24 when not otherwise provided for by law.
330	330	25 (10) Rent out, with the approval of the governor, any state
331	331	26 property, real or personal:
332	332	27 (A) not needed for public use; or
333	333	28 (B) for the purpose of providing services to the state or
334	334	29 employees of the state;
335	335	30 the rental of which is not otherwise provided for or prohibited by
336	336	31 law. Property may not be rented out under this subdivision for a
337	337	32 term exceeding ten (10) years at a time. However,
338	338	33 communications system infrastructure, including towers and
339	339	34 associated land, improvements, foundations, access roads and
340	340	35 rights-of-way, structures, fencing, and equipment that are
341	341	36 necessary, proper, or convenient to transmit or receive voice or
342	342	37 data communications, may be rented out under this subdivision
343	343	38 for a term not to exceed twenty-five (25) years at a time. In
344	344	39 addition, if property is rented out for a term of more than four (4)
345	345	40 years, the commissioner must make a written determination
346	346	41 stating the reasons that it is in the best interests of the state to rent
347	347	42 property for the longer term. This subdivision does not include the
348	348	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 9
349	349	1 power to grant or issue permits or leases to explore for or take
350	350	2 coal, sand, gravel, stone, gas, oil, or other minerals or substances
351	351	3 from or under the bed of any of the navigable waters of the state
352	352	4 or other lands owned by the state.
353	353	5 (11) Have charge of all central storerooms, supply rooms, and
354	354	6 warehouses established and operated by the state and serving
355	355	7 more than one (1) agency.
356	356	8 (12) Enter into contracts and issue orders for printing as provided
357	357	9 by IC 4-13-4.1.
358	358	10 (13) Sell or dispose of surplus property under IC 5-22-22, or if
359	359	11 advantageous, to exchange or trade in the surplus property toward
360	360	12 the purchase of other supplies, materials, or equipment, and to
361	361	13 make proper adjustments in the accounts and inventory pertaining
362	362	14 to the state agencies concerned.
363	363	15 (14) With respect to power, heating, and lighting plants owned,
364	364	16 operated, or maintained by any state agency:
365	365	17 (A) inspect;
366	366	18 (B) regulate their operation; and
367	367	19 (C) recommend improvements to those plants to promote
368	368	20 economical and efficient operation.
369	369	21 (15) Administer, determine salaries, and determine other
370	370	22 personnel matters of the department of correction ombudsman
371	371	23 bureau established by IC 4-13-1.2-3.
372	372	24 (16) Adopt rules to establish and implement a "Code Adam"
373	373	25 safety protocol as described in IC 4-20.5-6-9.2.
374	374	26 (17) Adopt policies and standards for making state owned
375	375	27 property reasonably available to be used free of charge as
376	376	28 locations for making motion pictures.
377	377	29 (18) Administer, determine salaries, and determine other
378	378	30 personnel matters of the department of child services ombudsman
379	379	31 established by IC 4-13-19-3.
380	380	32 SECTION 4. IC 4-13-19 IS REPEALED [EFFECTIVE JULY 1,
381	381	33 2025]. (Department of Child Services Ombudsman).
382	382	34 SECTION 5. IC 16-49-4-2, AS ADDED BY P.L.119-2013,
383	383	35 SECTION 3, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
384	384	36 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 2. The statewide child fatality review committee
385	385	37 consists of the following members appointed by the governor:
386	386	38 (1) A coroner or deputy coroner.
387	387	39 (2) A representative from the state department who:
388	388	40 (A) is a licensed physician; and
389	389	41 (B) specializes in injury prevention.
390	390	42 (3) A representative of a:
391	391	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 10
392	392	1 (A) local health department established under IC 16-20-2; or
393	393	2 (B) multiple county health department established under
394	394	3 IC 16-20-3.
395	395	4 (4) A pediatrician.
396	396	5 (5) A representative of law enforcement who has experience in
397	397	6 investigating child deaths.
398	398	7 (6) A representative from an emergency medical services
399	399	8 provider.
400	400	9 (7) The director or a representative of the department of child
401	401	10 services.
402	402	11 (8) A representative of a prosecuting attorney who has experience
403	403	12 in prosecuting child abuse.
404	404	13 (9) A pathologist who is:
405	405	14 (A) certified by the American Board of Pathology in forensic
406	406	15 pathology; and
407	407	16 (B) licensed to practice medicine in Indiana.
408	408	17 (10) A mental health provider.
409	409	18 (11) A representative of a child abuse prevention program.
410	410	19 (12) A representative of the department of education.
411	411	20 (13) An epidemiologist.
412	412	21 (14) The state child fatality review coordinator.
413	413	22 (15) At the discretion of the department of child services
414	414	23 ombudsman, a representative of the office of the department of
415	415	24 child services ombudsman established by IC 4-13-19-3.
416	416	25 IC 4-6-17-4.
417	417	26 SECTION 6. IC 16-49-4-4, AS ADDED BY P.L.119-2013,
418	418	27 SECTION 3, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
419	419	28 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 4. The statewide child fatality review committee
420	420	29 shall do the following:
421	421	30 (1) Compile and analyze data recorded by local child fatality
422	422	31 review teams in reviewing child fatalities.
423	423	32 (2) Review child mortality records and examine all other records
424	424	33 relevant to child fatalities in Indiana.
425	425	34 (3) Assist efforts by local child fatality review teams by:
426	426	35 (A) overseeing the creation of standardized forms and
427	427	36 protocols necessary for the review of child deaths;
428	428	37 (B) providing expertise by answering questions related to a
429	429	38 child's death that a local child fatality review team is
430	430	39 reviewing;
431	431	40 (C) establishing and sponsoring training programs for
432	432	41 members of local child fatality review teams; and
433	433	42 (D) providing, upon request of a local child fatality review
434	434	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 11
435	435	1 team, expertise in creating local prevention strategies.
436	436	2 (4) Upon request by a local child fatality review team or the
437	437	3 department of child services ombudsman established by
438	438	4 IC 4-13-19-3, IC 4-6-17-4, assist in or conduct a review of the
439	439	5 death of a child as provided under section 5 of this chapter.
440	440	6 (5) Create strategies and make recommendations for the safety of
441	441	7 children and prevention of serious injuries or deaths of children.
442	442	8 SECTION 7. IC 16-49-4-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.56-2023,
443	443	9 SECTION 174, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
444	444	10 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 5. (a) Upon request by a local child
445	445	11 fatality review team or the department of child services ombudsman
446	446	12 established by IC 4-13-19-3, IC 4-6-17-4, the statewide child fatality
447	447	13 review committee shall assist a local child fatality review team or
448	448	14 conduct a review of the death of a child that occurred in Indiana if:
449	449	15 (1) the death of the child is:
450	450	16 (A) sudden;
451	451	17 (B) unexpected;
452	452	18 (C) unexplained; or
453	453	19 (D) assessed by the department of child services for alleged
454	454	20 abuse or neglect that resulted in the death of the child; or
455	455	21 (2) the coroner in the area in which the child's death occurred
456	456	22 determines that the cause of the death of the child is:
457	457	23 (A) undetermined; or
458	458	24 (B) the result of a homicide, suicide, or accident.
459	459	25 (b) In conducting a child fatality review under subsection (a), the
460	460	26 statewide child fatality review committee may review all applicable
461	461	27 records and information related to the death of the child, including the
462	462	28 following:
463	463	29 (1) Records held by the:
464	464	30 (A) state department or local health department; and
465	465	31 (B) department of child services.
466	466	32 (2) Medical records.
467	467	33 (3) Law enforcement records.
468	468	34 (4) Autopsy reports.
469	469	35 (5) Records of the coroner.
470	470	36 (6) Mental health reports.
471	471	37 (c) Subject to IC 34-30-15, if the statewide child fatality review
472	472	38 committee requests records from a hospital, physician, coroner, law
473	473	39 enforcement officer, or mental health professional regarding a death
474	474	40 that the statewide child fatality review committee is investigating, the
475	475	41 hospital, physician, coroner, law enforcement officer, or mental health
476	476	42 professional shall provide the requested records to the statewide child
477	477	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 12
478	478	1 fatality review committee.
479	479	2 (d) A person who provides records in accordance with subsection
480	480	3 (c) in good faith is not subject to liability in:
481	481	4 (1) a civil;
482	482	5 (2) an administrative;
483	483	6 (3) a disciplinary; or
484	484	7 (4) a criminal;
485	485	8 action that might otherwise be imposed as a result of such disclosure.
486	486	9 (e) Except as otherwise provided in this article, information and
487	487	10 records acquired by the statewide child fatality review committee in the
488	488	11 exercise of its duties under this chapter are confidential and exempt
489	489	12 from disclosure.
490	490	13 (f) Records, information, documents, and reports acquired or
491	491	14 produced by the statewide child fatality review committee are not:
492	492	15 (1) subject to subpoena or discovery; or
493	493	16 (2) admissible as evidence;
494	494	17 in any judicial or administrative proceeding. Information that is
495	495	18 otherwise discoverable or admissible from original sources is not
496	496	19 immune from discovery or use in any proceeding merely because the
497	497	20 information was presented during proceedings before the statewide
498	498	21 child fatality review committee.
499	499	22 SECTION 8. IC 31-25-5-1, AS ADDED BY P.L.182-2009(ss),
500	500	23 SECTION 373, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
501	501	24 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1. As used in this chapter,
502	502	25 "ombudsman" refers to the office of the department of child services
503	503	26 ombudsman established within the Indiana department of
504	504	27 administration by IC 4-13-19-3. office of the attorney general by
505	505	28 IC 4-6-17-4. The term includes an employee of the office of the
506	506	29 department of child services ombudsman or an individual approved by
507	507	30 the office of the department of child services ombudsman to receive,
508	508	31 investigate, and resolve complaints that allege the department, by an
509	509	32 action or omission, failed to protect the physical or mental health or
510	510	33 safety of any child or failed to follow specific laws, rules, or written
511	511	34 policies.
512	512	35 SECTION 9. IC 31-27-3-18, AS AMENDED BY P.L.123-2014,
513	513	36 SECTION 11, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
514	514	37 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 18. (a) A licensee shall keep records regarding
515	515	38 each child in the control and care of the licensee as the department
516	516	39 requires and shall report to the department upon request the facts the
517	517	40 department requires with reference to children.
518	518	41 (b) The department shall keep records regarding children and facts
519	519	42 learned about children and the children's relatives confidential.
520	520	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 13
521	521	1 (c) The following have access to records regarding children and
522	522	2 facts learned about children:
523	523	3 (1) A state agency involved in the licensing of the child caring
524	524	4 institution.
525	525	5 (2) A legally mandated child protection agency.
526	526	6 (3) A law enforcement agency.
527	527	7 (4) An agency having the legal responsibility to care for a child
528	528	8 placed at the child caring institution.
529	529	9 (5) The parent, guardian, or custodian of the child at the child
530	530	10 caring institution.
531	531	11 (6) A citizen review panel established under IC 31-25-2-20.4.
532	532	12 (7) The department of child services ombudsman established by
533	533	13 IC 4-13-19-3. IC 4-6-17-4.
534	534	14 SECTION 10. IC 31-27-4-21, AS AMENDED BY P.L.123-2014,
535	535	15 SECTION 16, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
536	536	16 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 21. (a) A licensee shall keep records required by
537	537	17 the department regarding each child in the control and care of the
538	538	18 licensee and shall report to the department upon request the facts the
539	539	19 department requires with reference to children.
540	540	20 (b) The department shall keep records regarding children and facts
541	541	21 learned about children and the children's relatives confidential.
542	542	22 (c) The following have access to records regarding children and
543	543	23 facts learned about children:
544	544	24 (1) A state agency involved in the licensing of the foster family
545	545	25 home.
546	546	26 (2) A legally mandated child protection agency.
547	547	27 (3) A law enforcement agency.
548	548	28 (4) An agency having the legal responsibility to care for a child
549	549	29 placed at the foster family home.
550	550	30 (5) The parent, guardian, or custodian of the child at the foster
551	551	31 family home.
552	552	32 (6) A citizen review panel established under IC 31-25-2-20.4.
553	553	33 (7) The department of child services ombudsman established by
554	554	34 IC 4-13-19-3. IC 4-6-17-4.
555	555	35 SECTION 11. IC 31-27-5-18, AS AMENDED BY P.L.123-2014,
556	556	36 SECTION 17, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
557	557	37 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 18. (a) A licensee shall keep records required by
558	558	38 the department regarding each child in the control and care of the
559	559	39 licensee and shall report to the department, upon request, the facts the
560	560	40 department requires with reference to children.
561	561	41 (b) The department shall keep records regarding children and facts
562	562	42 learned about children and the children's relatives confidential.
563	563	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 14
564	564	1 (c) The following have access to records regarding children and
565	565	2 facts learned about children:
566	566	3 (1) A state agency involved in the licensing of the group home.
567	567	4 (2) A legally mandated child protection agency.
568	568	5 (3) A law enforcement agency.
569	569	6 (4) An agency having the legal responsibility to care for a child
570	570	7 placed at the group home.
571	571	8 (5) The parent, guardian, or custodian of the child at the group
572	572	9 home.
573	573	10 (6) A citizen review panel established under IC 31-25-2-20.4.
574	574	11 (7) The department of child services ombudsman established by
575	575	12 IC 4-13-19-3. IC 4-6-17-4.
576	576	13 SECTION 12. IC 31-27-6-15, AS AMENDED BY P.L.123-2014,
577	577	14 SECTION 18, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
578	578	15 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 15. (a) A licensee shall keep records required by
579	579	16 the department regarding each child in the control and care of the
580	580	17 licensee and shall report to the department upon request the facts the
581	581	18 department requires with reference to children.
582	582	19 (b) The department shall keep records regarding children and facts
583	583	20 learned about children and the children's relatives confidential.
584	584	21 (c) The following have access to records regarding children and
585	585	22 facts learned about children:
586	586	23 (1) A state agency involved in the licensing of the child placing
587	587	24 agency.
588	588	25 (2) A legally mandated child protection agency.
589	589	26 (3) A law enforcement agency.
590	590	27 (4) A citizen review panel established under IC 31-25-2-20.4.
591	591	28 (5) The department of child services ombudsman established by
592	592	29 IC 4-13-19-3. IC 4-6-17-4.
593	593	30 SECTION 13. IC 31-33-18-1, AS AMENDED BY P.L.77-2023,
594	594	31 SECTION 8, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
595	595	32 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1. (a) Except as provided in section 1.5 of this
596	596	33 chapter, the following are confidential:
597	597	34 (1) Reports made under this article (or IC 31-6-11 before its
598	598	35 repeal).
599	599	36 (2) Any other information, documents, reports, pictures, videos,
600	600	37 images, or recordings obtained, possessed, produced, or created
601	601	38 by:
602	602	39 (A) the division of family resources;
603	603	40 (B) the local office;
604	604	41 (C) the department; or
605	605	42 (D) the department of child services ombudsman established
606	606	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 15
607	607	1 by IC 4-13-19-3; IC 4-6-17-4;
608	608	2 concerning a child or family with whom the department has
609	609	3 received a report or referral or has been involved with during any
610	610	4 stage of the department's investigation, including post-assessment
611	611	5 or post-adoption activity.
612	612	6 (b) Except as provided in section 1.5 of this chapter, all records held
613	613	7 by:
614	614	8 (1) the division of family resources;
615	615	9 (2) a local office;
616	616	10 (3) the department;
617	617	11 (4) a local child fatality review team established under
618	618	12 IC 16-49-2;
619	619	13 (5) the statewide child fatality review committee established
620	620	14 under IC 16-49-4; or
621	621	15 (6) the department of child services ombudsman established by
622	622	16 IC 4-13-19-3; IC 4-6-17-4;
623	623	17 regarding the death of a child determined to be a result of abuse,
624	624	18 abandonment, or neglect are confidential and may not be disclosed.
625	625	19 SECTION 14. IC 31-33-18-1.5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.77-2023,
626	626	20 SECTION 9, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
627	627	21 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1.5. (a) This section applies to records held by:
628	628	22 (1) a local office;
629	629	23 (2) the department; or
630	630	24 (3) the department of child services ombudsman established by
631	631	25 IC 4-13-19-3; IC 4-6-17-4;
632	632	26 regarding a child whose death or near fatality may have been the result
633	633	27 of abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
634	634	28 (b) For purposes of subsection (a), a child's death or near fatality
635	635	29 may have been the result of abuse, abandonment, or neglect if:
636	636	30 (1) an entity described in subsection (a) determines that the child's
637	637	31 death or near fatality is the result of abuse, abandonment, or
638	638	32 neglect; or
639	639	33 (2) a prosecuting attorney files:
640	640	34 (A) an indictment or information; or
641	641	35 (B) a complaint alleging the commission of a delinquent act;
642	642	36 that, if proven, would cause a reasonable person to believe that
643	643	37 the child's death or near fatality may have been the result of
644	644	38 abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
645	645	39 Upon the request of any person, or upon its own motion, the court
646	646	40 exercising juvenile jurisdiction in the county in which the child's death
647	647	41 or near fatality occurred shall determine whether the allegations
648	648	42 contained in the indictment, information, or complaint described in
649	649	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 16
650	650	1 subdivision (2), if proven, would cause a reasonable person to believe
651	651	2 that the child's death or near fatality may have been the result of abuse,
652	652	3 abandonment, or neglect.
653	653	4 (c) If the juvenile court finds that the child's death or near fatality
654	654	5 was the result of abuse, abandonment, or neglect, the court shall make
655	655	6 written findings and provide a copy of the findings and the indictment,
656	656	7 information, or complaint described under subsection (b)(2) to the
657	657	8 department.
658	658	9 (d) As used in this section:
659	659	10 (1) "case" means:
660	660	11 (A) any intake report or other documentation such as a referral
661	661	12 or other matter received or generated by the department;
662	662	13 (B) any investigation or assessment conducted by the
663	663	14 department; or
664	664	15 (C) ongoing involvement between the department and a child
665	665	16 or family that is the result of:
666	666	17 (i) a program of informal adjustment; or
667	667	18 (ii) a child in need of services action;
668	668	19 for which related records and documents have not been expunged
669	669	20 as required by law or by a court at the time the department is
670	670	21 notified of a fatality or near fatality;
671	671	22 (2) "contact" means in person communication about a case in
672	672	23 which:
673	673	24 (A) the child who is the victim of a fatality or near fatality is
674	674	25 alleged to be a victim; or
675	675	26 (B) the perpetrator of the fatality or near fatality is alleged to
676	676	27 be the perpetrator;
677	677	28 (3) "identifying information" means information that identifies an
678	678	29 individual, including an individual's:
679	679	30 (A) name, address, date of birth, occupation, place of
680	680	31 employment, and telephone number;
681	681	32 (B) employer identification number, mother's maiden name,
682	682	33 Social Security number, or any identification number issued by
683	683	34 a governmental entity;
684	684	35 (C) unique biometric data, including the individual's
685	685	36 fingerprint, voice print, or retina or iris image;
686	686	37 (D) unique electronic identification number, address, or
687	687	38 routing code;
688	688	39 (E) telecommunication identifying information; or
689	689	40 (F) telecommunication access device, including a card, a plate,
690	690	41 a code, an account number, a personal identification number,
691	691	42 an electronic serial number, a mobile identification number, or
692	692	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 17
693	693	1 another telecommunications service or device or means of
694	694	2 account access;
695	695	3 (4) "life threatening" means an injury or condition that is
696	696	4 categorized as "serious" or "critical" in patient hospital records;
697	697	5 and
698	698	6 (5) "near fatality" means a severe childhood injury or condition
699	699	7 that is certified by a physician as being life threatening.
700	700	8 (e) Unless:
701	701	9 (1) a police investigation or criminal prosecution is ongoing; or
702	702	10 (2) information in a record is otherwise confidential under state
703	703	11 or federal law;
704	704	12 a record described in subsection (a) that has been redacted in
705	705	13 accordance with this section is not confidential and may be disclosed
706	706	14 to any person who requests the record. The person requesting the
707	707	15 record may be required to pay the reasonable expenses of copying the
708	708	16 record.
709	709	17 (f) When a person requests a record described in subsection (a), the
710	710	18 entity having control of the record shall immediately transmit a copy of
711	711	19 the record to the court exercising juvenile jurisdiction in the county in
712	712	20 which the death or near fatality of the child occurred. However, if the
713	713	21 court requests that the entity having control of a record transmit the
714	714	22 original record, the entity shall transmit the original record.
715	715	23 (g) Upon receipt of the record described in subsection (a), the court
716	716	24 shall, within thirty (30) days, redact the record to exclude:
717	717	25 (1) identifying information described in subsection (d)(3)(B)
718	718	26 through (d)(3)(F) of a person; and
719	719	27 (2) all identifying information of a child less than eighteen (18)
720	720	28 years of age.
721	721	29 (h) The court shall disclose the record redacted in accordance with
722	722	30 subsection (g) to any person who requests the record, if the person has
723	723	31 paid:
724	724	32 (1) to the entity having control of the record, the reasonable
725	725	33 expenses of copying under IC 5-14-3-8; and
726	726	34 (2) to the court, the reasonable expenses of copying the record.
727	727	35 (i) The data and information in a record disclosed under this section
728	728	36 must include the following:
729	729	37 (1) A summary of the report of abuse or neglect and a factual
730	730	38 description of the contents of the report.
731	731	39 (2) The age and gender of the child.
732	732	40 (3) The cause of the fatality or near fatality, if the cause has been
733	733	41 determined.
734	734	42 (4) Whether the department had any contact with the child or the
735	735	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 18
736	736	1 perpetrator before the fatality or near fatality, and, if the
737	737	2 department had contact, the following:
738	738	3 (A) The frequency of the contact with the child or the
739	739	4 perpetrator before the fatality or near fatality and the date on
740	740	5 which the last contact occurred before the fatality or near
741	741	6 fatality.
742	742	7 (B) A summary of the status of the child's case at the time of
743	743	8 the fatality or near fatality, including:
744	744	9 (i) whether the child's case was closed by the department
745	745	10 before the fatality or near fatality; and
746	746	11 (ii) if the child's case was closed as described under item (i),
747	747	12 the date of closure and the reasons that the case was closed.
748	748	13 (j) The court's determination under subsection (g) that certain
749	749	14 identifying information or other information is not relevant to
750	750	15 establishing the facts and circumstances leading to the death or near
751	751	16 fatality of a child is not admissible in a criminal proceeding or civil
752	752	17 action.
753	753	18 SECTION 15. IC 31-33-18-2, AS AMENDED BY P.L.54-2024,
754	754	19 SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
755	755	20 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 2. Except as otherwise prohibited by federal law,
756	756	21 the reports and other material described in section 1(a) of this chapter
757	757	22 and the unredacted reports and other material described in section 1(b)
758	758	23 of this chapter shall be made available only to the following:
759	759	24 (1) Persons authorized by this article.
760	760	25 (2) A legally mandated public or private child protective agency
761	761	26 investigating a report of child abuse or neglect or treating a child
762	762	27 or family that is the subject of a report or record.
763	763	28 (3) Any of the following who are investigating a report of a child
764	764	29 who may be a victim of child abuse or neglect:
765	765	30 (A) A police officer or other law enforcement agency.
766	766	31 (B) A prosecuting attorney.
767	767	32 (C) A coroner, in the case of the death of a child.
768	768	33 (4) A physician who has before the physician a child whom the
769	769	34 physician reasonably suspects may be a victim of child abuse or
770	770	35 neglect.
771	771	36 (5) An individual legally authorized to place a child in protective
772	772	37 custody if:
773	773	38 (A) the individual has before the individual a child whom the
774	774	39 individual reasonably suspects may be a victim of abuse or
775	775	40 neglect; and
776	776	41 (B) the individual requires the information in the report or
777	777	42 record to determine whether to place the child in protective
778	778	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 19
779	779	1 custody.
780	780	2 (6) An agency having the legal responsibility or authorization to
781	781	3 care for, treat, or supervise a child who is the subject of a report
782	782	4 or record or a parent, guardian, custodian, or other person who is
783	783	5 responsible for the child's welfare.
784	784	6 (7) An individual named in the report or record who is alleged to
785	785	7 be abused or neglected or, if the individual named in the report is
786	786	8 a child or is otherwise incompetent, the individual's guardian ad
787	787	9 litem or the individual's court appointed special advocate, or both.
788	788	10 (8) Each parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible
789	789	11 for the welfare of a child named in a report or record and an
790	790	12 attorney of the person described under this subdivision, with
791	791	13 protection for the identity of reporters and other appropriate
792	792	14 individuals.
793	793	15 (9) A court, for redaction of the record in accordance with section
794	794	16 1.5 of this chapter, or upon the court's finding that access to the
795	795	17 records may be necessary for determination of an issue before the
796	796	18 court. However, except for disclosure of a redacted record in
797	797	19 accordance with section 1.5 of this chapter, access is limited to in
798	798	20 camera inspection unless the court determines that public
799	799	21 disclosure of the information contained in the records is necessary
800	800	22 for the resolution of an issue then pending before the court.
801	801	23 (10) A grand jury upon the grand jury's determination that access
802	802	24 to the records is necessary in the conduct of the grand jury's
803	803	25 official business.
804	804	26 (11) An appropriate state or local official responsible for child
805	805	27 protection services or legislation carrying out the official's official
806	806	28 functions.
807	807	29 (12) The community child protection team appointed under
808	808	30 IC 31-33-3 (or IC 31-6-11-14 before its repeal), upon request, to
809	809	31 enable the team to carry out the team's purpose under IC 31-33-3.
810	810	32 (13) A person about whom a report has been made, with
811	811	33 protection for the identity of:
812	812	34 (A) any person reporting known or suspected child abuse or
813	813	35 neglect; and
814	814	36 (B) any other person if the person or agency making the
815	815	37 information available finds that disclosure of the information
816	816	38 would be likely to endanger the life or safety of the person.
817	817	39 (14) An employee of the department, a caseworker, or a juvenile
818	818	40 probation officer conducting a criminal history check under
819	819	41 IC 31-26-5, IC 31-34, or IC 31-37 to determine the
820	820	42 appropriateness of an out-of-home placement for a:
821	821	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 20
822	822	1 (A) child at imminent risk of placement;
823	823	2 (B) child in need of services; or
824	824	3 (C) delinquent child.
825	825	4 The results of a criminal history check conducted under this
826	826	5 subdivision must be disclosed to a court determining the
827	827	6 placement of a child described in clauses (A) through (C).
828	828	7 (15) A local child fatality review team established under
829	829	8 IC 16-49-2.
830	830	9 (16) The statewide child fatality review committee established by
831	831	10 IC 16-49-4.
832	832	11 (17) The department.
833	833	12 (18) The division of family resources, if the investigation report:
834	834	13 (A) is classified as substantiated; and
835	835	14 (B) concerns:
836	836	15 (i) an applicant for a license to operate;
837	837	16 (ii) a person licensed to operate;
838	838	17 (iii) an employee of; or
839	839	18 (iv) a volunteer providing services at;
840	840	19 a child care center licensed under IC 12-17.2-4 or a child care
841	841	20 home licensed under IC 12-17.2-5.
842	842	21 (19) A citizen review panel established under IC 31-25-2-20.4.
843	843	22 (20) The department of child services ombudsman established by
844	844	23 IC 4-13-19-3. IC 4-6-17-4.
845	845	24 (21) The secretary of education with protection for the identity of:
846	846	25 (A) any person reporting known or suspected child abuse or
847	847	26 neglect; and
848	848	27 (B) any other person if the person or agency making the
849	849	28 information available finds that disclosure of the information
850	850	29 would be likely to endanger the life or safety of the person.
851	851	30 (22) The state child fatality review coordinator employed by the
852	852	31 Indiana department of health under IC 16-49-5-1.
853	853	32 (23) A person who operates a child caring institution, group
854	854	33 home, or secure private facility if all the following apply:
855	855	34 (A) The child caring institution, group home, or secure private
856	856	35 facility is licensed under IC 31-27.
857	857	36 (B) The report or other materials concern:
858	858	37 (i) an employee of;
859	859	38 (ii) a volunteer providing services at; or
860	860	39 (iii) a child placed at;
861	861	40 the child caring institution, group home, or secure private
862	862	41 facility.
863	863	42 (C) The allegation in the report occurred at the child caring
864	864	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 21
865	865	1 institution, group home, or secure private facility.
866	866	2 (24) A person who operates a child placing agency if all the
867	867	3 following apply:
868	868	4 (A) The child placing agency is licensed under IC 31-27.
869	869	5 (B) The report or other materials concern:
870	870	6 (i) a child placed in a foster home licensed by the child
871	871	7 placing agency;
872	872	8 (ii) a person licensed by the child placing agency to operate
873	873	9 a foster family home;
874	874	10 (iii) an employee of the child placing agency or a foster
875	875	11 family home licensed by the child placing agency; or
876	876	12 (iv) a volunteer providing services at the child placing
877	877	13 agency or a foster family home licensed by the child placing
878	878	14 agency.
879	879	15 (C) The allegations in the report occurred in the foster family
880	880	16 home or in the course of employment or volunteering at the
881	881	17 child placing agency or foster family home.
882	882	18 (25) The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
883	883	19 (26) A local domestic violence fatality review team established
884	884	20 under IC 12-18-8, as determined by the department to be relevant
885	885	21 to the death or near fatality that the local domestic violence
886	886	22 fatality review team is reviewing.
887	887	23 (27) The statewide domestic violence fatality review committee
888	888	24 established under IC 12-18-9-3, as determined by the department
889	889	25 to be relevant to the death or near fatality that the statewide
890	890	26 domestic violence fatality review committee is reviewing.
891	891	27 (28) The statewide maternal mortality review committee
892	892	28 established under IC 16-50-1-3, as determined by the department
893	893	29 to be relevant to the case of maternal morbidity or maternal
894	894	30 mortality that the statewide maternal mortality review committee
895	895	31 is reviewing.
896	896	32 (29) A local fetal-infant mortality review team established under
897	897	33 IC 16-49-6, as determined by the department to be relevant to the
898	898	34 case of fetal or infant fatality that the local fetal-infant mortality
899	899	35 review team is reviewing.
900	900	36 (30) A suicide and overdose fatality review team established
901	901	37 under IC 16-49.5-2, as determined by the department to be
902	902	38 relevant to the case of a suicide or overdose fatality that the
903	903	39 suicide and overdose fatality review team is reviewing.
904	904	40 (31) The office of administrative law proceedings for a matter that
905	905	41 is the subject of an administrative proceeding before the office of
906	906	42 administrative law proceedings.
907	907	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 22
908	908	1 (32) A tribal representative, agency, or organization authorized by
909	909	2 the Indian child's tribe to care for, diagnose, treat, review,
910	910	3 evaluate, or monitor active efforts regarding an Indian child, and
911	911	4 the Indian child's parent, guardian, or custodian.
912	912	5 (33) The United States Department of State and foreign
913	913	6 governments to comply with federal law and treaties.
914	914	7 (34) A child advocacy center when the child advocacy center has
915	915	8 before it an investigation of child abuse or neglect in which it is
916	916	9 facilitating a forensic interview or facilitating a case discussion or
917	917	10 case review.
918	918	11 SECTION 16. IC 31-33-26-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.162-2011,
919	919	12 SECTION 47, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
920	920	13 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 5. (a) The department shall establish access
921	921	14 restrictions in order to maintain the security and confidentiality of the
922	922	15 index as required by this chapter.
923	923	16 (b) The department of child services ombudsman established by
924	924	17 IC 4-13-19-3 IC 4-6-17-4 shall have read only access to the index
925	925	18 concerning:
926	926	19 (1) children who are the subject of complaints filed with; or
927	927	20 (2) cases being investigated by;
928	928	21 the department of child services ombudsman. The office of the
929	929	22 department of child services ombudsman shall not have access to any
930	930	23 information related to cases or information that involves the
931	931	24 ombudsman or any member of the ombudsman's immediate family.
932	932	25 SECTION 17. IC 31-39-2-6, AS AMENDED BY P.L.128-2012,
933	933	26 SECTION 176, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
934	934	27 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 6. The records of the juvenile court
935	935	28 are available without a court order to:
936	936	29 (1) the attorney for the department of child services; or
937	937	30 (2) any authorized staff member of:
938	938	31 (A) the local office;
939	939	32 (B) the department of child services;
940	940	33 (C) the department of correction; or
941	941	34 (D) the department of child services ombudsman established
942	942	35 by IC 4-13-19-3. IC 4-6-17-4.
943	943	36 SECTION 18. IC 31-39-4-7, AS AMENDED BY P.L.182-2009(ss),
944	944	37 SECTION 385, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
945	945	38 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 7. The records of a law enforcement
946	946	39 agency are available, without specific permission from the head of the
947	947	40 agency, to:
948	948	41 (1) the attorney for the department of child services or any
949	949	42 authorized staff member; or
950	950	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119 23
951	951	1 (2) any authorized staff member of the department of child
952	952	2 services ombudsman established by IC 4-13-19-3. IC 4-6-17-4.
953	953	3 SECTION 19. IC 31-39-9-1, AS AMENDED BY P.L.182-2009(ss),
954	954	4 SECTION 386, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
955	955	5 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1. The following entities and
956	956	6 agencies may exchange records of a child who is a child in need of
957	957	7 services or has been determined to be a delinquent child under
958	958	8 IC 31-37-1-2, if the information or records are not confidential under
959	959	9 state or federal law:
960	960	10 (1) A court.
961	961	11 (2) A law enforcement agency.
962	962	12 (3) The department of correction.
963	963	13 (4) The department of child services.
964	964	14 (5) The office of the secretary of family and social services.
965	965	15 (6) A primary or secondary school, including a public or
966	966	16 nonpublic school.
967	967	17 (7) The department of child services ombudsman established by
968	968	18 IC 4-13-19-3. IC 4-6-17-4.
969	969	19 SECTION 20. IC 34-30-2.1-2.2 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
970	970	20 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
971	971	21 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 2.2. IC 4-6-17-8 (Concerning a
972	972	22 person who releases information to the department of child
973	973	23 services ombudsman).
974	974	24 SECTION 21. IC 34-30-2.1-2.3 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
975	975	25 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
976	976	26 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 2.3. IC 4-6-17-11 (Concerning the
977	977	27 office of the department of child services ombudsman for the good
978	978	28 faith performance of official duties).
979	979	29 SECTION 22. IC 34-30-2.1-7 IS REPEALED [EFFECTIVE JULY
980	980	30 1, 2025]. Sec. 7. IC 4-13-19-6 (Concerning a person who releases
981	981	31 information to the department of child services ombudsman).
982	982	32 SECTION 23. IC 34-30-2.1-8 IS REPEALED [EFFECTIVE JULY
983	983	33 1, 2025]. Sec. 8. IC 4-13-19-9 (Concerning the department of child
984	984	34 services ombudsman for the good faith performance of official duties).
985	985	2025 IN 205—LS 6311/DI 119