Sec. 1. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and subject to this chapter:

(1) a foster parent;

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(2) a long term foster parent;

(3) a person who has been a foster parent; or

(4) an unlicensed kinship caregiver;

of a child may petition the court to request intervention as a party during any stage of a child in need of services proceeding under IC 31-34 or a termination of parent-child relationship proceeding under IC 31-35 concerning the child.

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

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

(2) convicted of a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2-84.8;

may not petition the court to 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.