Ind. Code § 31-27-4.5-1

Current through P.L. 171-2024
Section 31-27-4.5-1 - Foster parent's right to disclose confidential information; limitations; exceptions
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a confidentiality agreement entered into between a foster parent and the department may not prohibit the foster parent from releasing or disclosing confidential information to a duly elected state government official for whom the information is relevant to the official's responsibility under the law to protect children from child abuse and neglect.
(b) A foster parent may provide an elected state government official with information regarding a child in the foster parent's care. However, a foster parent may not release or disclose the following information regarding a child who is or was in foster care or under the supervision of a juvenile court, or regarding the child's parent, guardian, or custodian:
(1) Medical records.
(2) Mental health records.
(3) Education records.
(4) Social Security number.
(5) Juvenile court records, as set forth in IC 31-39-1.
(6) Law enforcement records, as set forth in IC 31-39-3.
(7) A report prepared under IC 31-19-17-2.
(8) Identifying information (as defined in IC 31-33-18-1.5) regarding the child's parent, guardian, or custodian.
(9) Information shared at a meeting at which the foster parent was present only with the consent of a child's parent, guardian, or custodian.
(c) The department may not:
(1) take adverse action against a foster parent's license under IC 31-27-4; or
(2) remove a foster child from the home of a foster parent;

solely on the basis of the foster parent having spoken to a duly elected state government official, provided the foster parent did not provide the state government official with information the foster parent is prohibited from releasing under subsection (b).

IC 31-27-4.5-1

Added by P.L. 244-2023,SEC. 7, eff. 7/1/2023.