Kirk’s family made lucky badges to wear before testifying in front of the Indiana Statehouse. (Photos Provided)

INDIANAPOLIS — A relatively new bill has gone through the Indiana House of Representatives with exceptional efficiency after New Paris family members Anissa Garza and her mother Angie Garza pushed to share their tragic story of loss.

Kirk Coleman passed away at the age of just 19-months-old while under the care of his baby sitter, Jackie Rolston of New Paris. Although Anissa has brought formal charges against Rolston, the push for change came in November 2015 when the Garza family discovered Rolston had been charged with two felonies in 2006; battery upon a child and neglect of a dependent. In 2008, Rolston was found guilty of the neglect charge while the battery charge was dismissed. According to court documents from March 2008, Rolston was sentenced to 18 months suspended on probation for the neglect charge and ordered “not to engage in child care as a commercial enterprise.”

Jackie Lynn Rolston

Kirk Coleman was placed in Rolston’s care when he died from blunt force trauma in October 2014. On March 20, 2015, Rolston was charged with battery resulting in the death of a child and battery upon a child. She was booked into the Elkhart County Jail March 23.

After learning of Rolston’s former charges, Coleman’s mother and grandmother began to ponder a way to help other young mothers and fathers provide more reliable ways to check the history of sitters for children. After much research into child abuse rates in Indiana, Anissa and Angie came up with the idea of a child abuse registry. The list, similar to that of a sex offender, would require anyone with child abuse or neglect charges to register with name and age, along with last known location, identifying information and a photo. A free service, it would also provide details about the type of abuse each registrant had been charged with.

According to Angie, the push for the bill to begin the registry came in November 2015. After the family contacted State Sen. Carlin Yoder and State Rep. Curt Nisly, both men dropped by for a visit. Yoder took the information and ran with it, drafting a bill that was read to the Senate’s Committee on Judiciary Jan. 11 this year. After the third reading Feb. 3, the bill passed unanimously. From there, the bill went to the House Committee on Court and Criminal Code, as well as the Committee on Ways and Means, where it also passed unanimously. Because of an amendment that shifted registry responsibility from the Indiana State Police to the Indiana courts, the bill will need to go through the Senate again.

Kirk Coleman

Angie reported the family is expecting no bumps in the road in sending the bill through the Senate a second time, noting the family is exhausted yet satisfied with the results. The Garza family has testified multiple times on behalf of Coleman’s tragic story, sharing heart-breaking details about the loss of a son and grandson.

“I never expected it to go this fast,” said Angie in a phone interview. “It shows that this is a much needed bill.” Angie also added several other representatives have caught on to the bill, trying to find a way to take it to their own states.

Angie knows it isn’t the end of the tough battle, but definitely a light to guide the path of so many others in similar situations. “It’s one step closer to honoring our grandson.”

The family shares updates on the bill on their Facebook page, Justice for Kirk.

Anissa Garza, Kirk’s mother, stoops by his gravestone. (Photo Provided)