HB 1037 Summary

• Establishes a new chapter (IC 31-19-26.7) creating adoption subsidies for children in foster care who are not children with special needs.

• Court may order the Department of Child Services to pay monthly subsidies up to the cost of foster family home care if federal adoption assistance payments do not equal the total monthly cost of care.

• Department must pay subsidies for medical, surgical, hospital, and related expenses for adoptive children if the condition existed before adoption, expenses were previously paid by the state or local government, and current insurance or public payments are unavailable.

• Subsidies continue until the child turns 18, becomes emancipated, dies, the adoption is terminated, or by further court order; court may extend subsidies until age 21 if the child is enrolled in secondary school, college, university, or vocational training.

• Adoptive parents must file annual sworn reports with the court and department regarding location and condition of the child; court may modify subsidies based on changed conditions but cannot reduce health-related subsidies required under the chapter.