Ind. Code ch. 2-5-55.7

Ind. Code ch. 2-5-55.7
in effect

Ind. Code § 2-5-55.7-1 Governing authority; definitions

Sec. 1. (a) This chapter is subject to IC 2-5-1.2. (b) As used in this chapter, "task force" refers to the child welfare task force established by section 2 of this chapter. As added by P.L.162-2025, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 2-5-55.7-2 Child welfare task force established

Sec. 2. The child welfare task force is established. As added by P.L.162-2025, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 2-5-55.7-3 Task force membership and chairs

Sec. 3. (a) The task force consists of the following twenty-two (22) members, all of whom are voting members: (1) Five (5) members of the senate, appointed as follows: (A) Three (3) members appointed by the president pro tempore, one (1) of whom serves as co-chair of the task force. (B) Two (2) members appointed by the minority leader. (2) Five (5) members of the house of representatives, appointed as follows: (A) Three (3) members appointed by the speaker, one (1) of whom serves as co-chair of the task force. (B) Two (2) members appointed by the minority leader. (3) One (1) member who is a judge appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court. (4) One (1) member appointed by the speaker who represents a child placing agency (as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-46). (5) One (1) member appointed by the president pro tempore who either: (A) is an in-home provider; or (B) provides family preservation services (as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-94). (6) One (1) member appointed by the speaker who represents a: (A) child caring institution (as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-42); or (B) private secure facility (as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-186). (7) One (1) member appointed by the president pro tempore who is a group home (as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-115) provider. (8) One (1) member appointed by the speaker who is an older foster youth services provider. (9) One (1) member appointed by the president pro tempore who is a preventative provider that runs a child welfare program (as defined in IC 31-26-3.5-1). (10) One (1) member appointed by the speaker who is at least eighteen (18) years of age and who has lived experience as a child within the child welfare system. (11) One (1) member appointed by the president pro tempore who is a juvenile probation officer. (12) The director of the department of child services. (13) A deputy director of the department of child services. (14) The chief of staff or director of the division of mental health and addiction. (b) The president pro tempore shall designate one (1) member appointed under subsection (a)(1)(A) to serve as a co-chair of the task force for the duration of the task force. (c) The speaker shall designate one (1) member appointed under subsection (a)(2)(A) to serve as a co-chair of the task force for the duration of the task force. (d) A member of the task force serves at the will of the member's appointing authority for the duration of the task force. As added by P.L.162-2025, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.145-2026, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 2-5-55.7-4 Task force meetings

Sec. 4. (a) The task force shall meet at the call of the co-chairs. (b) Twelve (12) members constitute a quorum. (c) The affirmative votes of at least a majority of the members of the task force are necessary for the task force to take official action other than to meet and take testimony. As added by P.L.162-2025, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 2-5-55.7-5 Applicability of public meeting and public records laws to task force

Sec. 5. (a) All task force meetings are open to the public in accordance with and subject to IC 5-14-1.5. (b) All task force records are subject to the requirements of IC 5-14-3. As added by P.L.162-2025, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 2-5-55.7-6 Topics for task force study

Sec. 6. The task force shall study the following topics: (1) The standards for child safety as it pertains to qualifying as a child in need of services. (2) The need for various types of child welfare services in Indiana. (3) The need for child welfare service providers in different geographic regions throughout Indiana. (4) Methods to assess the quality of child welfare services offered. (5) The reasonableness of time for a child in need of services to reach permanency. As added by P.L.162-2025, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 2-5-55.7-7 Task force staffing

Sec. 7. The legislative services agency shall provide staff support to the task force. As added by P.L.162-2025, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 2-5-55.7-8 Task force reports

Sec. 8. (a) The task force shall submit two (2) reports to the executive director of the legislative services agency, in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6, for review by the interim study committee on child services. (b) A report described in subsection (a) must: (1) be submitted not later than October 15, 2026, and must include: (A) the topics reviewed by the task force; and (B) the task force's findings and recommendations; for the period beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026; and (2) be submitted not later than October 15, 2027, and must include: (A) the topics reviewed by the task force; and (B) the task force's findings and recommendations; for the period beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027. As added by P.L.162-2025, SEC.2.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/2Fetched: 10/17/2026