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Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Ind. Courts - Two interesting bills considered by House Judiciary today
The AP is reporting, via Fox 28:
Indiana lawmakers want to find ways to keep students who get into minor trouble at school out of juvenile court.The 22-page bill is HB 1193 and seems broader than the above report.Supporters of the bill say zero-tolerance policies enforced by police clog juvenile courts with arrests for disrupting class and other minor offenses without improving school safety. They also say even a minor juvenile arrest can put youths on a path toward dropping out and going to prison.
The bill would set up a statewide study group that includes police, judges, teachers and others who work with children. Its goal would be to recommend better methods for handling juveniles who get in trouble at school.
The bill was approved by the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday and now moves to the full House.
Another bill considered by the same House Judiciary Committee today is HB 1167, authored by Rep. Moses, coauthored by Rep. L. Lawson. I've seen no report yet on the Committee's action, but it bears watching, as this has been a matter of controversy between the courts and the IDCS over the past year. The digest:
Placement of children outside Indiana. Removes a provision that states the department of child services (department) is responsible for payment of any costs or expenses for housing or services provided to or for the benefit of a child placed by a juvenile court in a home or facility located outside Indiana only if the director of the department or the director's designee recommends or approves the placement. Provides that the department is responsible for these costs and expenses if a juvenile court places a child in a home or facility that is located outside Indiana and the: (1) juvenile court makes written findings based on clear and convincing evidence that the out-of- state placement is appropriate because there is not a comparable facility with adequate services located in Indiana or the location of the home or facility is within a distance not greater than 50 miles from the county of residence of the child; or (2) placement is recommended or approved by the director of the department or the director's designee.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 12, 2010 12:44 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts