INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The Indiana Department of Child Services is drawing fire for a new policy that requires a committee to screen all information that is released to the public, including news releases and external emails.

WRTV-TV reports (http://bit.ly/RXct47 http://bit.ly/RXct47 ) that DCS Director James Payne announced the committee’s creation in a memo Tuesday.
Agency officials say the review policy is aimed at accuracy, but Democratic state Sen. Vi Simpson calls it disturbing.

Siimpson, who is running for lieutenant governor, says it sounds like Payne is trying to withhold information because of dissatisfaction with recent reports of the department’s handling of cases.

Public Access Counselor Joseph Hoage says the change is legal, but he’s concerned about potential delays.

DCS spokeswoman Stephanie McFarland says such committees are “pretty standard practice” across public and private organizations.