Sec. 6.1. (a) Before entering its dispositional decree or a modification to a dispositional decree, the juvenile court shall do the following:

(1) Consider the recommendations for the needs of the child for care, treatment, rehabilitation, or placement made by the department in the department's predispositional report.

(2) Consider the recommendations for the needs of the child for care, treatment, rehabilitation, or placement made by the parent, guardian or custodian, guardian ad litem or court appointed special advocate, foster parent, other caretaker of the child, or other party to the proceeding.

(3) If the juvenile court determines that the best interests of the child require consideration of other dispositional options, submit the juvenile court's own recommendations for care, treatment, rehabilitation, or placement of the child.

(b) If the juvenile court accepts the recommendations in the department's predispositional report, the juvenile court shall enter its dispositional decree with its findings and conclusions under section 10 of this chapter.

(c) If during or after conclusion of the dispositional hearing or modification hearing, the juvenile court does not accept the recommendations of the department as set out under subsection (a) in the predispositional report and states that the juvenile court wants the department to consider the recommendations made under subsection (a)(2) or (a)(3), the dispositional hearing or modification hearing shall be continued for not more than seven (7) business days after service of notice of the juvenile court's determination. The department shall consider the recommendations that the juvenile court requested the department to consider and submit to the juvenile court a supplemental predispositional report stating the department's final recommendations and reasons for accepting or rejecting the recommendations that were not included in the department's original predispositional report. If the juvenile court accepts the recommendations in the department's supplemental report, the juvenile court may adopt the recommendations as its findings and enter its dispositional decree.

(d) The juvenile court shall accept each final recommendation of the department contained in a supplemental predispositional report submitted under subsection (c), unless the juvenile court finds that a recommendation is:

(1) unreasonable, based on the facts and circumstances of the case; or

(2) contrary to the welfare and best interests of the child.

(e) If the juvenile court does not accept one (1) or more of the department's final recommendations contained in the department's supplemental predispositional report, the juvenile court shall:

(1) enter its dispositional decree with its written findings and conclusions under sections 6 and 10 of this chapter; and

(2) specifically state why the juvenile court is not accepting the final recommendations of the department.

(f) If the juvenile court enters its findings and decree under subsections (d) and (e), the department may appeal the juvenile court's decree under any available procedure provided by the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure or the Indiana Rules of Appellate Procedure to allow any disputes arising under this section to be decided in an expeditious manner.

(g) If the department prevails on appeal, the department shall pay the following costs and expenses incurred by or on behalf of the child before the date of the final decision:

(1) Any programs or services implemented during the appeal initiated under subsection (f), other than the cost of an out-of-home placement ordered by the juvenile court.

(2) Any out-of-home placement ordered by the juvenile court and implemented after entry of the dispositional decree or modification order, if the court has made written findings that the placement is an emergency required to protect the health and welfare of the child.

If the court has not made written findings that the placement is an emergency, the department shall file a notice with the office of judicial administration.

As added by P.L.146-2008, SEC.601. Amended by P.L.48-2012, SEC.63; P.L.161-2018, SEC.40.