§ 4-13-19-4 — Appointment of ombudsman; authority to hire employees

(a) The governor shall appoint the ombudsman.
The ombudsman serves at the pleasure of the governor. An individual
may not be appointed as ombudsman if the individual has been
employed by the department of child services at any time during the
preceding twelve (12) months. The governor shall appoint a successor
ombudsman not later than thirty (30) days after a vacancy occurs in the
position of the ombudsman.
(b) The office of the department of child services ombudsman:
(1) shall employ at least two (2) full time employees to assist the
ombudsman with receiving, investigating, and attempting to
resolve complaints described in section 5 of this chapter; and
(2) may employ technical experts and other employees to carry
out the purposes of this chapter.
(c) The office of the department of child services ombudsman may
not hire an individual to serve as an ombudsman if the individual has
been employed by the department of child services during the
preceding twelve (12) months.
(d) The ombudsman and any other person employed or authorized
by the ombudsman:
(1) are subject to the same criminal history and background
checks, to be performed by the department of child services, that
are required for department of child services family case
managers; and
(2) are subject to the same disqualification for employment
criteria as department of child services family case managers.

Legislative History

As added by P.L.182-2009(ss), SEC.55. Amended by P.L.48-2012, SEC.1.