This story is part of our new Quick Hits series. This series will bring you breaking news and short updates from throughout the state.
Gov. Gordon signed two bills related to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) into law on March 7th. Last session, the Wyoming legislature created a version of the law for the state when the federal law was under consideration by the Supreme Court. Very broadly, ICWA aims to keep Native children in Native communities in foster care and adoption cases.
Senate File 18 will amend Wyoming’s Safe Haven Law – now, when a parent surrenders a newborn to agencies like fire departments to be put up for adoption, those safe haven providers will be required to ask if the child has any tribal affiliation. If yes, the adoption process would be handed over to the tribe.
Senate File 37 will remove a clause about juvenile delinquency from the state’s ICWA law to bring it into alignment with the federal version of the law.