HLS 19RS-3760 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 306
BY REPRESENTATIVE HILFERTY
ADOPTION: Requests the Louisiana State Law Institute to study the time period required
for the finalization of adoptions
1 A RESOLUTION
2To urge and request the Louisiana State Law Institute to study and issue a report of its
3 findings regarding changing the period of time for finalizing an adoption from one
4 year to six months in order to more quickly provide children with permanent homes
5 and families.
6 WHEREAS, Children's Code Articles 1233 and 1238 require that the child being
7adopted live in the adopting parent's home for an entire year prior to a court granting a final
8decree of adoption; and
9 WHEREAS, many other states require a shorter period, such as six months, before
10a final adoption decree is rendered by a court; and
11 WHEREAS, providing a permanent home and family for a child is of utmost
12importance for the child's best interest and development; and
13 WHEREAS, Louisiana values adoption as a tool paramount to the establishment of
14the family unit; and
15 WHEREAS, Louisiana recognizes the importance of placing children in loving,
16stable homes without unnecessary delay; and
17 WHEREAS, the House of Representatives is interested in investigating whether
18adoptions may be streamlined without compromising the integrity of the adoption process.
19 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
20Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Louisiana State Law Institute to
21study the issue of changing the period of time for finalizing an adoption from one year to six
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HR NO. 306
1months and to review other states' laws with respect to the period of time required for
2finalizing adoptions.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana State Law Institute shall issue a
4report of its findings to the Legislature of Louisiana prior to February 1, 2020, specifically
5including in the report a summary of the period of time required for the finalization of
6adoptions in other states.
7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
8president of the Louisiana State Law Institute.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 306 Original 2019 Regular Session Hilferty
Requests the La. State Law Institute to study the issue of changing the period of time for
finalizing an adoption from one year to six months and to review other states' laws with
respect to the period of time for finalizing adoptions.
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