Sec. 7.5. (a) Except as provided in subsection (d), the juvenile court may not approve a permanency plan under subsection (c)(1)(C), (c)(1)(D), or (c)(1)(E) if a person who is currently residing with a person described in subsection (c)(1)(C) or (c)(1)(D) or in a residence in which the child would be placed under subsection (c)(1)(E) has committed an act resulting in a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect, has a juvenile adjudication for an act that would be a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2-84.8 if committed by an adult, or has a conviction for a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2-84.8.

     (b) Before requesting juvenile court approval of a permanency plan, the department shall conduct a criminal history check (as defined in IC 31-9-2-22.5) to determine if a person described in subsection (a) has committed an act resulting in a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect, has a juvenile adjudication for an act that would be a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2-84.8 if committed by an adult, or has a conviction for a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2-84.8. However, the department is not required to conduct a criminal history check under this section if criminal history information under IC 31-34-4-2, IC 31-34-18-6.1, or IC 31-34-20-1.5 establishes whether a person described in subsection (a) has committed an act resulting in a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect, has a juvenile adjudication for an act that would be a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2-84.8 if committed by an adult, or has a conviction for a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2-84.8.

     (c) A permanency plan, or plans, if concurrent planning, under this chapter includes the following:

(1) The intended permanent or long term arrangements for care and custody of the child that may include any one (1), or two (2), if concurrent planning, of the following arrangements that the department or the court considers most appropriate and consistent with the best interests of the child:

(A) Return to or continuation of existing custodial care within the home of the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian or placement of the child with the child’s noncustodial parent.

(B) Placement of the child for adoption.

(C) Placement of the child with a responsible person, including:

(i) an adult sibling;

(ii) a grandparent;

(iii) an aunt;

(iv) an uncle;

(v) a custodial parent of a sibling of the child; or

(vi) another relative;

who is able and willing to act as the child’s permanent custodian and carry out the responsibilities required by the permanency plan.

(D) Appointment of a legal guardian. The legal guardian appointed under this section is a caretaker in a judicially created relationship between the child and caretaker that is intended to be permanent and self-sustaining as evidenced by the transfer to the caretaker of the following parental rights with respect to the child:

(i) Care, custody, and control of the child.

(ii) Decision making concerning the child’s upbringing.

(E) A supervised independent living arrangement or foster care for the child with a permanency plan of another planned, permanent living arrangement. However, a child less than sixteen (16) years of age may not have another planned, permanent living arrangement as the child’s permanency plan.

(2) A time schedule for implementing the applicable provisions of the permanency plan.

(3) Provisions for temporary or interim arrangements for care and custody of the child, pending completion of implementation of the permanency plan.

(4) Other items required to be included in a case plan under IC 31-34-15 or federal law, consistent with the permanent or long term arrangements described by the permanency plan.

     (d) A juvenile court may approve a permanency plan if:

(1) a person described in subsection (a) has:

(A) committed an act resulting in a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect;

(B) been convicted of:

(i) battery (IC 35-42-2-1);

(ii) criminal recklessness (IC 35-42-2-2) as a felony;

(iii) criminal confinement (IC 35-42-3-3) as a felony;

(iv) arson (IC 35-43-1-1) as a felony;

(v) nonsupport of a dependent child (IC 35-46-1-5);

(vi) operating a motorboat while intoxicated (IC 35-46-9-6) as a felony;

(vii) a felony involving a weapon under IC 35-47;

(viii) a felony relating to controlled substances under IC 35-48-4; or

(ix) a felony under IC 9-30-5;

if the conviction did not occur within the past five (5) years; or

(C) had a juvenile adjudication for a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2-84.8 that, if committed by an adult, would be a felony; and

(2) the person’s commission of the offense, delinquent act, or act of abuse or neglect described in subdivision (1) is not relevant to the person’s present ability to care for a child, and that approval of the permanency plan is in the best interest of the child.

However, a court may not approve a permanency plan if the person has been convicted of a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2-84.8 that is not specifically excluded under subdivision (1)(B), or has a juvenile adjudication for an act that would be a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2-84.8 if committed by an adult that is not specifically excluded under subdivision (1)(B).

     (e) In making its written finding under subsection (d), the court shall consider the following:

(1) The length of time since the person committed the offense, delinquent act, or act that resulted in the substantiated report of abuse or neglect.

(2) The severity of the offense, delinquent act, or abuse or neglect.

(3) Evidence of the person’s rehabilitation, including the person’s cooperation with a treatment plan, if applicable.

As added by P.L.35-1998, SEC.18. Amended by P.L.70-2004, SEC.23; P.L.234-2005, SEC.184; P.L.145-2006, SEC.324; P.L.146-2008, SEC.608; P.L.128-2012, SEC.169; P.L.158-2013, SEC.324; P.L.104-2015, SEC.41; P.L.65-2016, SEC.16; P.L.183-2017, SEC.52; P.L.243-2019, SEC.18; P.L.142-2020, SEC.45; P.L.156-2020, SEC.119.