Bill > HB1230

This bill adds a new chapter to the Indiana Code to improve public transparency around child fatalities and near fatalities due to abuse or neglect. The key provisions are: 1. The Department of Child Services (DCS) must promptly provide preliminary information to the public when a child fatality or near fatality occurs, including the child's name, age, and gender, the location, whether there were prior abuse/neglect reports, and actions taken by DCS. 2. Within 90 days of completing a report on a fatality or near fatality case, DCS must provide a summary report to the public, including any actions taken by DCS and additional details from the investigation. 3. The summary report must contain specific information if the child was residing at home, such as prior DCS involvement, or if the child was in out-of-home placement, such as the licensed provider's history. 4. The bill also makes technical changes to confidentiality provisions related to child abuse and neglect records.