STATEHOUSE (January 29, 2013) – The Indiana Senate today unanimously approved State Sen. Brent Steele’s (R-Bedford) legislation to improve the Department of Child Services (DCS) by allowing for more direct communication between local DCS offices and professionals who work with children. Senate Bill 105 passed the full Senate 47-0 and now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

Steele’s bill would allow any law enforcement official, judiciary employee, medical professional or school official to report cases of child abuse or neglect directly to local DCS caseworkers rather than to the statewide child abuse hotline based in Indianapolis.  

Steele said this change would reduce caller wait times and give local caseworkers the freedom to respond to reports from professionals without having to wait for direction from Indianapolis.

“My bill will work well with and will give another tool to our judges, police, school and medical care personnel, and act as a piece of insurance to further guarantee the future welfare of our children in Indiana,” Steele said.

For an up-to-date copy of Steele’s bill, click here.

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To listen to an audio recording, click here.