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Senate passes bill tightening foster-care timelines and expanding foster-parent rights to intervene in court
Summary
Senators passed House Bill 16-05 to speed permanency for children in foster care and expand standing for long-term caregivers; the vote was 45–3. Sponsors said the bill reduces delays that keep children in temporary placements; some senators expressed concern about the aggressive timeline but supported testing the change.
The Indiana Senate approved House Bill 16-05 by a 45–3 vote after floor debate that lasted through the session’s later hours. The measure revises juvenile dependency and termination timelines, makes it easier for long-term foster caretakers to participate in court proceedings, and seeks to shorten the time children spend moving through the system in search of permanency.
“Currently, we rank ninth worst in the country for adoptions out of foster care, taking four years or longer sometimes,” sponsor Senator Brown said when he introduced the bill, describing the purpose as improving permanency…
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