1. (a) This section applies if the department or a juvenile court:

   1. (1) places a child;
   2. (2) changes the placement of a child; or

   3. (3) reviews the implementation of a decree under IC 31-34-21 of a child placed;

      in a state licensed private or public health care facility, child care facility, foster family home, or the home of a relative or other unlicensed caretaker.

2. (b) The juvenile court shall do the following:

   1. (1) Make findings of fact concerning the legal settlement of the child.
   2. (2) Apply IC 20-26-11-2 (a)(1) through IC 20-26-11-2 (a)(8) to determine where the child has legal settlement.

   3. (3) Include the findings of fact required by this section in:

      1. (A) the dispositional order;
      2. (B) the modification order; or

      3. (C) the other decree;

         making or changing the placement of the child.

3. (c) The juvenile court may determine that the legal settlement of the child is in the school corporation in which the child will attend school under IC 20-26-11-8 (d).
4. (d) The juvenile court shall comply with the reporting requirements under IC 20-26-11-9 concerning the legal settlement of the child.

5. (e) The department or a juvenile court may place a child in a public school, regardless of whether the public school has a waiting list for admissions, if the department or juvenile court determines that the school's program meets the child's educational needs and the school agrees to the placement. A placement under this subsection does not affect the legal settlement of the child.

   [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-18.5(b) part, (d) part.]

As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.1-2005, SEC.205; P.L.13-2006, SEC.5; P.L.159-2007, SEC.5; P.L.146-2008, SEC.604; P.L.65-2012, SEC.6; P.L.160-2012, SEC.57; P.L.38-2020, SEC.13.