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Senate Committee Recommends Commission To Investigate DCS

Sen. Eddie Melton (D-Merrillville) says his proposed two-year commission is not meant to interfere with an ongoing, independent review of the Department of Child Services.
Credit Brandon Smith/IPB News

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  A Senate committee unanimously recommended creation of a special legislative study commission to investigate the Department of Child Services Monday.

 

Sen. Eddie Melton (D-Merrillville) authored the resolution. He says his proposed two-year commission is not meant to interfere with an ongoing, independent review of the embattled state agency.

 

“I think this is a great opportunity for legislators to remain engaged in this process,” Melton says.

 

The original resolution listed causes of the recent surge in DCS cases. They included poverty, substance abuse, and crime. The Senate committee stripped that language out.

 

Melton supports the change. He says he wants the commission to be as open as possible.

 

“To ensure that it didn’t leave out any contributing factors to children," Melton says. "I think the most important part is to make sure we have the committee established.”

 

The resolution now goes before the full Senate.

 

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.