Sec. 4.5. (a) At least ten (10) days before a hearing under section 2 or 3 of this chapter, the probation department shall send notice of the hearing to each of the following:

(1) The child's parent, guardian, or custodian.

(2) An attorney who has entered an appearance on behalf of the child's parent, guardian, or custodian.

(3) The child or an attorney who has entered an appearance on behalf of the child.

(4) A prospective adoptive parent named in a petition for adoption of the child filed under IC 31-19-2 if:

(A) each consent to adoption of the child that is required under IC 31-19-9-1 has been executed in the form and manner required by IC 31-19-9 and filed with the local office;

(B) the court having jurisdiction in the adoption case has determined under any applicable provision of IC 31-19-9 that consent to adoption is not required from a parent, guardian, or custodian; or

(C) a petition to terminate the parent-child relationship between the child and any parent who has not executed a written consent to adoption under IC 31-19-9-2 has been filed under IC 31-35 and is pending.

(5) Any other person who:

(A) the probation department has knowledge is currently providing care for the child; and

(B) is not required to be licensed under IC 12-17.2 or IC 31-27 to provide care for the child.

(6) Any other suitable relative.

(b) The court shall provide to a person described in subsection (a) an opportunity to be heard and to make any recommendations to the court in a hearing under section 2 or 3 of this chapter. The right to be heard and to make recommendations under this subsection includes:

(1) the right of a person described in subsection (a) to submit a written statement to the court that, if served upon all parties to the delinquency proceeding and the persons described in subsection (a), may be made a part of the court record; and

(2) the right to present oral testimony to the court and cross-examine any of the witnesses at the hearing.

(c) This section does not exempt the probation department from sending a notice of the review to each party to the delinquency proceeding.

(d) The court shall continue the hearing if, at the time set for the hearing, the probation department has not provided the court with a signed verification that any person required to be notified under this section has been notified in the manner stated in the verification, unless the person appears for the hearing.

As added by P.L.138-2007, SEC.86. Amended by P.L.128-2012, SEC.175; P.L.123-2014, SEC.28.