1. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and subject to this chapter, an individual who is providing care and supervision of a child as:

   1. (1) a foster parent;
   2. (2) a long term foster parent; or

   3. (3) an unlicensed kinship caregiver;

      at the time the child is the subject of a child in need of services proceeding under IC 31-34 or a termination of parent-child relationship proceeding under IC 31-35 may intervene as a party during any stage of the proceeding if the individual files a petition to intervene with the court and the court makes the findings described in section 3 of this chapter.

2. (b) Any person described in subsection (a) who has been:

   1. (1) the subject of a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect; or

   2. (2) convicted of a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-168 ;

      may not intervene under this chapter.

As added by P.L.210-2019, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.68-2022, SEC.3; P.L.46-2024, SEC.16; P.L.179-2025, SEC.9; P.L.145-2026, SEC.193.