STATEHOUSE (Feb. 23, 2017) – State Rep. Mike Karickhoff’s (R-Kokomo) proposal that would require grandparents be notified of an impending adoption has passed out of the Indiana House of Representatives.
This bill would entitle grandparents of a child sought for adoption to be notified of adoption proceedings. The grandparents must already have an existing right to petition for visitation, those rights will not be terminated after the adoption and the child must not be in the care of the Department of Child Services.
“The idea for this legislation came to me from a constituent,” Karickhoff said. “All the criteria must be met before the grandparents will be notified of an impending adoption. This legislation does not change or affect grandparents’ visitation.”
In 2016, DCS completed approximately 1,500 adoptions. Under the proposal, a maximum of 6,000 additional notices would be sent out per year to grandparents.
The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration. For more information on House Bill 1245, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Mike Karickhoff (R-Kokomo) represents House District 30,
which includes portions of Grant and Howard counties.
A high-resolution photo of Karickhoff can be downloaded by clicking here.
