Introduced Version
SENATE BILL No. 498
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 31-9-2-43.6; IC 31-27.
Synopsis: Child services. Removes the graduate training requirement
for a casework supervisor's qualifications. Provides that a casework
supervisor may qualify with eight credit hours of master's degree level
courses in certain areas of study. (Current law requires the casework
supervisor to have completed a master's degree.) Removes the time
period for a child's maximum stay at a group home for which the
department may grant a waiver in certain circumstances. Removes the
minimum age restriction for the definition of "emergency shelter".
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Walker G
January 14, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Family and Children
Services.
2025 IN 498—LS 7484/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
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between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SENATE BILL No. 498
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 31-9-2-43.6, AS ADDED BY P.L.109-2024,
2 SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 43.6. "Emergency shelter", for purposes of
4 IC 31-27, means a short term place of residence, other than a private
5 secure facility, that:
6 (1) is not locked to prevent a child's departure unless the
7 administrator determines that locking is necessary to protect the
8 child's health; and
9 (2) provides twenty-four (24) hours a day temporary care for not
10 more than sixty (60) consecutive days to an individual a child
11 who is six (6) years of age or older admitted on an emergency
12 basis.
13 SECTION 2. IC 31-27-3-10, AS AMENDED BY P.L.48-2012,
14 SECTION 26, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
15 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 10. (a) The department may grant a waiver of the
16 twenty (20) day maximum stay for a child if the child caring institution
17 licensed as a shelter care facility applies for the waiver before the
2025 IN 498—LS 7484/DI 148 2
1 expiration of the twenty (20) day period. maximum stay.
2 (b) The child caring institution shall document in the request for a
3 waiver that the waiver is in the best interest of the child.
4 SECTION 3. IC 31-27-5-11, AS AMENDED BY P.L.48-2012,
5 SECTION 32, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
6 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 11. (a) The department may grant a waiver of the
7 twenty (20) day maximum stay for a child if the group home licensed
8 as a shelter care facility applies for the waiver before the expiration of
9 the twenty (20) day period. maximum stay.
10 (b) The group home shall document in the request for a waiver that
11 the waiver is in the best interest of the child.
12 SECTION 4. IC 31-27-6-15.5, AS ADDED BY P.L.109-2024,
13 SECTION 7, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
14 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 15.5. (a) A child placing agency shall establish
15 minimum qualifications for each classification of employee. The
16 standards in subsections (b) through (e) must be used as a guide by
17 each child placing agency in establishing minimum qualifications for
18 the classifications of an executive, a casework supervisor, a
19 caseworker, and a worker in training, and by the department in the
20 licensing of each child placing agency.
21 (b) An executive must have the following:
22 (1) A bachelor's degree.
23 (2) At least one (1) of the following:
24 (A) Five (5) years of paid experience in a field related to social
25 work, at least two (2) years of which were:
26 (i) in social work; or
27 (ii) in a supervisory or administrative capacity in a field
28 related to social work, including working for the department.
29 (B) A master's degree in social work, counseling, or a related
30 human services area and at least two (2) years of paid
31 experience:
32 (i) in social work; or
33 (ii) in a supervisory or administrative capacity in a field
34 related to social work, including working for the department.
35 (c) A casework supervisor must have the following:
36 (1) A bachelor's degree.
37 (2) One (1) year of graduate training in social work, counseling,
38 or a related human service area of study.
39 (3) (2) At least one (1) of the following:
40 (A) Three (3) years of supervised paid casework experience,
41 at least one (1) year of which was with a licensed child placing
42 agency or with the department. child welfare agency.
2025 IN 498—LS 7484/DI 148 3
1 (B) A At least eight (8) credit hours of master's degree from
2 a recognized school of level courses in:
3 (i) social work;
4 (ii) counseling; or
5 (iii) a human services area of study;
6 and at least one (1) year of supervised paid casework
7 experience in a licensed child placing agency or with the
8 department. with a child welfare agency.
9 (d) A caseworker must have the following:
10 (1) A bachelor's degree.
11 (2) At least one (1) of the following:
12 (A) Three (3) years of supervised paid casework experience.
13 (B) One (1) year of supervised paid casework experience in a
14 licensed child placing agency or with the department.
15 (C) One (1) year of graduate training in a recognized school of
16 social work.
17 (e) A worker in training must have a bachelor's degree.
18 (f) A child placing agency must only employ a staff member who is:
19 (1) duly qualified;
20 (2) of good moral character; and
21 (3) in satisfactory health.
22 (g) An employee who is in a position on January 1, 2012, and who
23 qualified for that position on December 31, 2011, is exempt from the
24 requirements of this section.
2025 IN 498—LS 7484/DI 148