INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana Senate voted 48-1 on Tuesday to endorse another recommendation of the Department of Child Services study committee and allow counties to establish their own teams to review sudden, unexplained child deaths.
Under current law, child fatality review teams are organized on a regional basis. Senate Bill 572, which now goes to the House, permits counties to establish their own team, work with another county or keep their regional team.
"This gives the power to each county to make the decision that's best for them," said state Sen. Randy Head, R-Logansport, sponsor of the legislation.
The proposal also moves oversight of the review teams to the State Department of Health and creates a state child fatality review coordinator who would identify similarities in unexplained child deaths.
"At all levels we look for trends to see how these deaths can be prevented," Head said.
Similar provisions in House Bill 1123 are expected to win House approval by the end of the month.
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