Bush Signed Public Law 108-145 (Adoption Promotion Act of 2003)
Public Law 108-145 reauthorizes incentive
payments to states for increasing the number of children who are adopted,
especially older children. Because this law does not discriminate against
lesbians and gays and because state and private agencies are increasingly likely
to consider applications from lesbians and gays, and to actually place children
with them, this law is likely to be beneficial to prospective lesbian and gay
parents.
Congressional
Summary:
Adoption Promotion Act of 2003
- Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social
Security Act to revise requirements with respect to States eligible to receive
adoption incentives payments. Reauthorizes the adoption incentive payments
program. Provides additional incentives for adoptions of older children (nine
years of age and up). Modifies requirements with respect to determination of
numbers of special needs adoptions that are not older children as well as
adoptions of older children.
Revises
the formula for adoption incentive payments to States to provide a payment for:
(1) special needs adoptions that are not older child adoptions; and (2) older
child adoptions.
Repeals the
requirement that the Secretary of Health and Human Services provide supplemental
grants to incentive-eligible
States.
Authorizes the Secretary to
impose specified penalties against a State for failure to provide necessary data
to the Secretary for the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting
System.
Posted at 09:56 AM