Section 33-23-16-23.5 - Parents and guardians; financial responsibility for fees and expenses assessed against a child(a) A parent or guardian of a child:(1) who is: (A) adjudicated a delinquent child; or(B) in a program of informal adjustment approved by a juvenile court under IC 31-37-9; and(2) who is accepted into a problem solving court program; is financially responsible for the problem solving court services fee and chemical testing expenses assessed against the child by the problem solving court under this chapter.
(b) A parent or guardian of a child described in subsection (a) shall, before a hearing under subsection (c) concerning payment of fees and expenses assessed against the child, provide financial information to the problem solving court as ordered by the problem solving court.(c) The problem solving court shall hold a hearing and may order the parent or guardian to pay fees and expenses assessed against a child described in subsection (a) unless the problem solving court makes a specific finding that: (1) the parent or guardian is unable to pay the fees or expenses; or(2) justice would not be served by ordering the parent or guardian to pay the fees or expenses.(d) If a parent or guardian is ordered to pay fees or expenses under this section, the parent or guardian shall pay the fees or expenses to the problem solving court or the clerk of the court. The problem solving court shall keep a record of all payments made under this section by each parent or guardian. When a child is discharged from a problem solving court program, the problem solving court shall determine the amount of any unpaid fees or expenses a parent or guardian owes under this section. The problem solving court may reduce the unpaid balance to a final judgment that may be enforced in any court that has appropriate jurisdiction.Amended by P.L. 136-2012, SEC. 11, eff. 7/1/2012.Added by P.L. 187-2011, SEC. 7, eff. 7/1/2011.