Sec. 1. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and subject to this chapter, a:
(1) foster parent;
(2) long term foster parent; or
(3) person who has been a foster parent;
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.