Recently, the Indiana House of Representatives unanimously advanced State Representative Jake Teshka's (R-North Liberty) legislation aimed at ensuring Hoosier parents can let their children play unsupervised without fear of prosecution.
House Bill 1035 clarifies that a child participating in age-appropriate independent activities is not automatically designated as a child in need of services.
"Children should have the freedom to play outside without constant adult supervision as long as they're not in danger," Teshka said. "There is a clear difference between independence and neglect."
Teshka said this legislation would minimize over-reporting and unnecessary calls to the Indiana Department of Child Services. He said the bill would define independent activity with examples such as biking and walking.
Research on early childhood development shows that children who develop independence and emotional regulation skills perform better academically. A study of 325 children found that strong emotion regulation was associated with higher classroom productivity and improved early literacy and math achievement, even after accounting for IQ. Researchers concluded that independent learning behaviors and emotional self-regulation play a key role in long-term academic success.
"As a father, my children are already practicing independence as I did as a child, and other children should have the same freedom," Teshka said. "The bill leaves room for intervention in cases of actual neglect, but more often than not, reported cases do not involve neglect."
Teshka said HB 1035 is a clarification bill meant to draw a clear boundary between neglect and independence. The current vague standard allows DCS complaints to be weaponized against parenting decisions, leading to government overreach and failures.
This legislation does not limit the Department of Child Services' ability to intervene in legitimate cases of neglect. Instead, Teshka said it would help lighten the agency's caseload so staff can focus on children who truly need assistance.
House Bill 1035 now moves to the Senate for consideration. Watch sessions and committees live and view legislation at iga.in.gov.
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