A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning family law and juvenile law.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details about the actions and initiatives required beyond those mentioned.

Changes to Indiana Child Services Ombudsman Office

This act changes how the Department of Child Services' ombudsman office operates, requiring it to hire experts and investigate complaints about child protection issues.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the ombudsman office to employ technical experts and other employees to carry out its purposes.
• Receives, investigates, and attempts to resolve complaints alleging that the Department of Child Services failed to protect a child's physical or mental health or safety or violated specific laws, rules, or written policies.
• Issues recommendations if: (A) the ombudsman office determines that a complaint has merit; or (B) an investigation reveals problems with an agency, facility, or program.
• Requires a different local child protection team to assist in investigations when another team is already involved.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Department of Child Services
• Local child protection teams
• People who file complaints about the Department of Child Services

Terms To Know

Ombudsman Office

An office that investigates and tries to solve problems related to a government department, in this case, the Department of Child Services.

Local child protection team

A group that works with the Department of Child Services to protect children from harm.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify when or how these changes will be implemented.
• It is unclear what specific actions and initiatives are required beyond those mentioned in the summary.

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning family law and juvenile law.
Department of child services ombudsman.

Current Bill Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning family law and juvenile law.

Department of child services ombudsman.

Provides that the office of the department of child services ombudsman (ombudsman office) shall (rather than may, under current law): (1) employ technical experts and other employees to carry out the purposes of the ombudsman office; (2) receive, investigate, and attempt to resolve complaints alleging that the department of child services failed to protect the physical or mental health or safety of a child or failed to follow specific laws, rules, or written policies; (3) issue recommendations if: (A) the ombudsman office determines that a complaint has merit; or (B) an investigation by the ombudsman office reveals a problem with an agency, facility, or program; and (4) take other specified actions and undertake other specified initiatives. Provides that if a local child protection team is involved in the initial investigation of a matter, a different local child protection team shall (rather than may, under current law) assist the ombudsman office in the ombudsman office's investigation of the matter.