IndianaIndiana department must contact alleged child victims before cases end
Starting July 1, 2026, Indiana’s department must contact alleged child abuse or neglect victims in person before certain assessments or court cases end.
What it does
The department must have in-person contact with an alleged child abuse or neglect victim within 30 days before it concludes an abuse assessment or dismisses or ends a juvenile court case for a child who needs services.
Argument forA final in-person contact could give alleged victims a chance to share concerns before an assessment or court case ends.
Argument againstA required in-person contact shortly before a case ends could be stressful for children who have faced abuse or neglect.
More detail
The department must have in-person contact with the alleged victim. This applies to alleged victims of child abuse or neglect before the department concludes an abuse assessment or dismisses or ends a child-in-need-of-services case in juvenile court. The duty is subject to IC 31-33-8-7. Contact must occur no more than 30 days before the department concludes the assessment or dismisses or ends the court case. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Feb 26Signed by the Governor Mike BraunBecame Law
- Feb 26Public Law 37Major
- Feb 25Signed by the President of the SenateMajor
- Feb 24Signed by the President Pro TemporeMajor
- Feb 23Signed by the SpeakerMajor
- Feb 19House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 294: yeas 94, nays 0
- Vote recorded HB 1036 - Garcia Wilburn. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 19Motion to concur filedMinor
- Feb 18Returned to the House with amendmentsMinor
- Feb 17Third reading: passed; Roll Call 175: yeas 45, nays 0Passed Senate
- Vote recorded HB 1036 - Rogers - 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 17Senator Maxwell added as cosponsor
- Feb 16Second reading: amended, ordered engrossedMinor
- Feb 16Senator Hunley added as cosponsor
- Feb 16Senators Goode, Donato, Walker G, Qaddoura added as cosponsors
- Feb 16Senators Schmitt, Gaskill, Johnson T added as cosponsors
- Feb 16Amendment #2 (Freeman) prevailed; voice voteMajor
- Feb 9Committee report: do pass, adoptedMinor
- Feb 5First reading: referred to Committee on Family and Children ServicesMinor
- Feb 3Referred to the SenateMinor
- Feb 2Senate sponsors: Senators Rogers, Pol, Clark
- Vote recorded HB 1036 - Garcia Wilburn - 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 2Third reading: passed; Roll Call 189: yeas 95, nays 0Passed House
- Feb 2Representative Goss-Reaves added as coauthor
- Feb 2Cosponsor: Senator Ford J.D.
- Jan 29Second reading: ordered engrossedMinor
- Jan 27Committee report: amend do pass, adoptedMinor
- 2025
- Dec 4Representative McGuire added as coauthor
- Dec 1First reading: referred to Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Dec 1Authored by Representative Garcia Wilburn
- Dec 1Coauthored by Representative BurtonIntroduced
Criminal Justice