IC 31-19-8
    Chapter 8. Supervision of Child by Licensed Child PlacingAgency

IC 31-19-8-1
Period of supervision as prerequisite to adoption
    Sec. 1. An adoption may be granted in Indiana only after:
        (1) the court has heard the evidence; and
        (2) except as provided in section 2(c) of this chapter, a periodof supervision, as described in section 2 of this chapter, by:
            (A) a licensed child placing agency for a child who has notbeen adjudicated to be a child in need of services; or
            (B) if the child is the subject of an open child in need ofservices action, the county office of family and childrenapproved for that purpose by the department.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.145-2006,SEC.248; P.L.138-2007, SEC.38; P.L.131-2009, SEC.15.

IC 31-19-8-2
Supervision period; waiver of supervision period
    Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided in subsection (c), the period ofsupervision required by section 1 of this chapter may be before orafter the filing of a petition for adoption, or both.
    (b) The length of the period of supervision is within the solediscretion of the court hearing the petition for adoption.
    (c) A court hearing a petition for adoption of a child may waivethe period of supervision under subsection (a) if one (1) of thepetitioners is a stepparent or grandparent of the child and the courtwaives the report under section 5(c) of this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.138-2007,SEC.39.

IC 31-19-8-3
List of licensed child placing agencies and county offices of familyand children
    Sec. 3. (a) The department shall annually compile a list of:
        (1) licensed child placing agencies; and
        (2) county offices of family and children;
that conduct the inspection and supervision required for adoption ofa child by IC 31-19-7-1 and section 1 of this chapter.
    (b) The list of licensed child placing agencies and county officesof family and children must include a description of the following:
        (1) Fees charged by each agency and county office of familyand children.
        (2) Geographic area served by each agency and county office offamily and children.
        (3) Approximate waiting period for the inspection orsupervision by each licensed child placing agency and countyoffice of family and children.
        (4) Other relevant information regarding the inspection and

supervision provided by a licensed child placing agency or acounty office of family and children under IC 31-19-7-1 andsection 1 of this chapter.
    (c) The department shall do the following:
        (1) Maintain in its office or on its web site copies of the listcompiled under this section for distribution to individuals whorequest a copy.
        (2) Provide each county office of family and children withsufficient copies of the list prepared under this section fordistribution to individuals who request a copy.
        (3) Provide a copy of the list to each public library organizedunder IC 36-12.
    (d) The department and each:
        (1) county office of family and children; and
        (2) public library organized under IC 36-12;
shall make the list compiled under this section available for publicinspection.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.1-2005, SEC.201;P.L.145-2006, SEC.249; P.L.131-2009, SEC.16.

IC 31-19-8-4
List of approved supervising agencies
    Sec. 4. To facilitate adoption proceedings, the department shall:
        (1) publish;
        (2) post on its web site; or
        (3) furnish to each public library organized under IC 36-12;
a list of approved supervising agencies.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.145-2006,SEC.250; P.L.131-2009, SEC.17.

IC 31-19-8-5
Agency report and recommendation; filing requirements; waiverof report
    Sec. 5. (a) Except as provided in subsection (c), not more thansixty (60) days from the date of reference of a petition for adoptionto each appropriate agency:
        (1) each licensed child placing agency, for a child who is notadjudicated to be a child in need of services; or
        (2) if the child is the subject of an open child in need of servicesaction, each county office of family and children;
shall submit to the court a written report of the investigation andrecommendation as to the advisability of the adoption.
    (b) The report and recommendation:
        (1) shall be filed with the adoption proceedings; and
        (2) become a part of the proceedings.
    (c) A court hearing a petition for adoption of a child may waivethe report required under subsection (a) if one (1) of the petitionersis a stepparent or grandparent of the child and the court waives theperiod of supervision.
    (d) If the court waives the reports required under subsection (a),

the court shall require the licensed child placing agency for a childwho is not adjudicated to be a child in need of services or, if thechild is the subject of an open child in need of services action, eachcounty office of family and children to:
        (1) ensure a criminal history check is conducted underIC 31-19-2-7.5; and
        (2) report to the court the results of the criminal history check.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.138-2007,SEC.40; P.L.131-2009, SEC.18.

IC 31-19-8-6
Contents of report
    Sec. 6. (a) The report required by section 5 of this chapter must,to the extent possible, include the following:
        (1) The former environment and antecedents of the child.
        (2) The fitness of the child for adoption.
        (3) The suitability of the proposed home for the child.
    (b) The report may not contain any of the following:
        (1) Information concerning the financial condition of theadoptive parents.
        (2) A recommendation that a request for a subsidy be denied inwhole or in part due to the financial condition of the adoptiveparents.
    (c) The criminal history information required underIC 31-19-2-7.5 must accompany the report.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.200-1999,SEC.19; P.L.138-2007, SEC.41; P.L.131-2009, SEC.19.

IC 31-19-8-7
Summary consideration of agency's report; continuance
    Sec. 7. The court shall summarily consider the report submittedunder section 5 of this chapter. If the court finds that furtherinvestigation or further supervision is necessary, the court shallcontinue the case to a later date that the court considers advisable forfinal determination. At that time the court shall determine the case.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.138-2007,SEC.42; P.L.131-2009, SEC.20.

IC 31-19-8-8
Agency report and recommendation; nonbinding on court
    Sec. 8. The report and recommendation of the licensed childplacing agency or county office are not binding on the court but areadvisory only.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.138-2007,SEC.43; P.L.131-2009, SEC.21.

IC 31-19-8-9
Prompt hearing and determination of adoption
    Sec. 9. As soon as possible after the provisions of IC 31-19-7-1and this chapter have been satisfied, the court shall proceed to hear

and determine the petition for adoption.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.