SECONDREGULARSESSION
HOUSEBILLNO.2631
102NDGENERALASSEMBLY
INTRODUCEDBYREPRESENTATIVEHAUSMAN.
5446H.01I DANARADEMANMILLER,ChiefClerk
ANACT
Toamendchapter453,RSMo,byaddingtheretotwenty-twonewsectionsrelatingto
unregulatedchildcustodytransfers,withpenaltyprovisions.
BeitenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyofthestateofMissouri,asfollows:
SectionA.Chapter453,RSMo,isamendedbyaddingtheretotwenty-twonew
2sections,tobeknownassections453.700,453.702,453.704,453.706,453.708,453.710,
3453.712,453.714,453.716,453.718,453.720,453.722,453.724,453.726,453.728,453.730,
4453.732,453.734,453.736,453.738,453.740,and453.742,toreadasfollows:
453.700.Sections453.700to453.740maybecitedasthe"UniformUnregulated
2ChildCustodyTransferAct".
453.702.Insections453.700to453.740:
2 (1)"Child"meansanunemancipatedindividualundereighteenyearsofage;
3 (2)"Child-placingagency"meansapersonwithauthorityunderotherlawof
4thisstatetoidentifyorplaceachildforadoption.Thetermdoesnotincludeaparentof
5thechild;
6 (3)"Custody"meanstheexerciseofphysicalcareandsupervisionofachild;
7 (4)"Intercountryadoption"meansanadoptionorplacementforadoptionofa
8childwhoresidesinaforeigncountryatthetimeofadoptionorplacement.Theterm
9includesanadoptionfinalizedinthechild'scountryofresidenceorinastate;
10 (5)"Parent"meansanindividualrecognizedasaparentunderotherlawofthis
11state;
EXPLANATION—Matterenclosedinbold-facedbrackets[thus] intheabovebillisnotenactedandis
intendedtobeomittedfromthelaw.Matterinbold-facetypeintheabovebillisproposedlanguage. 12 (6)"Person"meansanindividual,estate,businessornonprofitentity,public
13corporation,governmentorgovernmentalsubdivision,agency,orinstrumentality,or
14otherlegalentity;
15 (7)"Record"meansinformation:
16 (a)Inscribedonatangiblemedium;or
17 (b)Storedinanelectronicorothermediumandretrievableinperceivableform;
18 (8)"State"meansastateoftheUnitedStates,theDistrictofColumbia,Puerto
19Rico,theUnitedStatesVirginIslands,oranyotherterritoryorpossessionsubjecttothe
20jurisdictionoftheUnitedStates.ThetermincludesafederallyrecognizedIndiantribe.
453.704.Sections453.700to453.740donotapplytocustodyofanIndianchild,
2asdefinedinSection4(4)oftheIndianChildWelfareActof1978,25U.S.C.Section
31903(4),asamended,totheextentcustodyisgovernedbytheIndianChildWelfareAct
4of1978,25U.S.C.Sections1901through1963,asamended.
453.706.Insections453.706to453.716:
2 (1)"Guardian"meansapersonrecognizedasaguardianunderotherlawofthis
3state;
4 (2)"Intermediary"meansapersonthatassistsorfacilitatesatransferof
5custodyofachild,whetherornotforcompensation.
453.708.Sections453.706to453.716donotapplytoatransferofcustodyofa
2childbyaparentorguardianofthechildto:
3 (1)Aparentofthechild;
4 (2)Astepparentofthechild;
5 (3)Anadultwhoisrelatedtothechildbyblood,marriage,oradoption;
6 (4)Anadultwho,atthetimeofthetransfer,hadacloserelationshipwiththe
7childortheparentorguardianofthechildforasubstantialperiod,andwhomthe
8parentorguardianreasonablybelieves,atthetimeofthetransfer,tobeafitcustodian
9ofthechild;
10 (5)AnIndiancustodian,asdefinedinSection4(6)oftheIndianChildWelfare
11Actof1978,25U.S.C.Section1903(6),asamended,ofthechild;or
12 (6)Amemberofthechild'scustomaryfamilyunitrecognizedbythechild's
13indigenousgroupunderotherlawofthisstate.
453.710.1.Exceptasprovidedinsubsection2ofthissection,aparentor
2guardianofachildoranindividualwithwhomachildhasbeenplacedforadoption
3maynottransfercustodyofthechildtoanotherpersonwiththeintent,atthetimeofthe
4transfer,toabandontherightsandresponsibilitiesconcerningthechild.
5 2.Aparentorguardianofachildoranindividualwithwhomachildhasbeen
6placedforadoptionmaytransfercustodyofthechildtoanotherpersonwiththeintent,
HB2631 2 7atthetimeofthetransfer,toabandontherightsandresponsibilitiesconcerningthe
8childonlythrough:
9 (1)Adoptionorguardianship;
10 (2)Judicialawardofcustody;
11 (3)Placementbyorthroughachild-placingagency;
12 (4)Otherjudicialortribalaction;or
13 (5)Safeplacefornewbornsactof2002undersection210.950.
14 3.Apersonmaynotreceivecustodyofachild,oractasanintermediaryina
15transferofcustodyofachild,ifthepersonknowsorreasonablyshouldknowthe
16transferviolatessubsection1ofthissection.Thisprohibitiondoesnotapplyifthe
17person,assoonaspracticableafterthetransfer,notifiesthechildren'sdivisionofthe
18transferortakesappropriateactiontoestablishcustodyundersubsection2ofthis
19section.
20 4.ViolationofthissectionisaclassBmisdemeanor.
21 5.Violationofsubsection1ofthissectionisnotestablishedsolelybecausea
22parentorguardianthattransferscustodyofachilddoesnotregaincustody.
453.712.1.Ifthechildren'sdivisionhasareasonablebasistobelievethata
2personhastransferredorwilltransfercustodyofachildinviolationofsubsection1of
3section453.710,thechildren'sdivisionmayconductahomevisitasprovidedbyother
4lawofthisstateandtakeappropriateactiontoprotectthewelfareofthechild.
5 2.Ifthechildren'sdivisionconductsahomevisitforachildadoptedorplaced
6throughanintercountryadoption,thechildren'sdivisionsshall:
7 (1)Prepareareportonthewelfareandplanforpermanentplacementofthe
8child;and
9 (2)ProvideacopytotheUnitedStatesDepartmentofState.
10 3.Sections453.700to453.740donotpreventthechildren'sdivisionfromtaking
11appropriateactionunderotherlawofthisstate.
453.714.1.Apersonmaynotsolicitoradvertiseto:
2 (1)Identifyapersontowhichtomakeatransferofcustodyinviolationof
3subsection1ofsection453.710;
4 (2)Identifyachildforatransferofcustodyinviolationofsubsection3ofsection
5453.710;or
6 (3)Actasanintermediaryinatransferofcustodyinviolationofsubsection3of
7section453.710.
8 2.ViolationofthissectionisaclassBmisdemeanor.
453.716.Alawenforcementagencymayinvestigateapossibleviolationof
2sections453.706to453.716andtakelegalactionasprovidedbylawofthisstate.
HB2631 3 453.718.Insections453.718to453.732,"prospectiveadoptiveparent"meansan
2individualwhohasbeenapprovedorpermittedunderotherlawofthisstatetoadopta
3child.
453.720.Sections453.718to453.732applytoplacementforadoptionofachild
2who:
3 (1)Hasbeenorisinfosterorinstitutionalcare;
4 (2)Previouslyhasbeenadoptedinastate;
5 (3)Hasbeenorisbeingadoptedunderthelawofaforeigncountry;
6 (4)Hascomeoriscomingtoastatefromaforeigncountrytobeadopted;or
7 (5)IsnotacitizenoftheUnitedStates.
453.722.Withinareasonabletimebeforeachild-placingagencyplacesachild
2foradoptionwithaprospectiveadoptiveparent,theagencyshallprovideorcausetobe
3providedtotheprospectiveadoptiveparentgeneraladoptioninformation.The
4informationmustaddress:
5 (1)Possiblephysical,mental,emotional,andbehavioralissuesconcerning:
6 (a)Identity,loss,andtraumathatachildmightexperiencebefore,during,or
7afteradoption;and
8 (b)Achildleavingfamiliartiesandsurroundings;
9 (2)Theeffectthataccesstoresources,includinghealthinsurance,mayhaveon
10theabilityofanadoptiveparenttomeettheneedsofachild;
11 (3)Causesofdisruptionofanadoptiveplacementordissolutionofanadoption
12andresourcesavailabletohelpavoiddisruptionordissolution;and
13 (4)Prohibitionsundersections453.710and453.714.
453.724.1.Exceptasprohibitedbyotherlawofthisstate,withinareasonable
2timebeforeachild-placingagencyplacesachildforadoptionwithaprospective
3adoptiveparent,theagencyshallprovideorcausetobeprovidedtotheprospective
4adoptiveparentinformationspecifictothechildthatisknowntoorreasonably
5obtainablebytheagencyandmaterialtotheprospectiveadoptiveparent’sinformed
6decisiontoadoptthechild.Theinformationmustinclude:
7 (1)Thechild'sfamily,cultural,racial,religious,ethnic,linguistic,and
8educationalbackground;
9 (2)Thechild'sphysical,mental,emotional,andbehavioralhealth;
10 (3)Circumstancesthatmightadverselyaffectthechild'sphysical,mental,
11emotional,orbehavioralhealth;
12 (4)Thechild'smedicalhistory,includingimmunizations;
13 (5)Themedicalhistoryofthechild'sgeneticparentsandsiblings;
HB2631 4 14 (6)Thehistoryofanadoptiveorout-of-homeplacementofthechildandthe
15reasontheadoptionorplacementended;
16 (7)Thechild'sUnitedStatesimmigrationstatus;
17 (8)Medical,therapeutic,andeducationalresources,includinglanguage-
18acquisitiontraining,availabletotheadoptiveparentandchildafterplacementfor
19adoptionoradoptiontoassistinrespondingeffectivelytophysical,mental,emotional,
20orbehavioralhealthissues;and
21 (9)Availablerecordsrelevanttotheinformationinsubdivisions(1)through(8)
22ofthissubsection.
23 2.If,beforeanadoptionisfinalized,additionalinformationundersubsection1
24ofthissectionthatismaterialtoaprospectiveadoptiveparent'sinformeddecisionto
25adoptthechildbecomesknowntoorreasonablyobtainablebythechild-placingagency,
26theagencyshallprovidetheinformationtotheprospectiveadoptiveparent.
27 3.If,afteranadoptionisfinalized,additionalinformationundersubsection1of
28thissectionbecomesknowntothechild-placingagency,theagencyshallmakea
29reasonableefforttoprovidetheinformationtotheadoptiveparent.
453.726.1.Achild-placingagencyplacingachildforadoptionshallprovideor
2causetobeprovidedtotheprospectiveadoptiveparentguidanceandinstruction
3specifictothechildtohelppreparetheparenttorespondeffectivelytoneedsofthechild
4thatareknowntoorreasonablyascertainablebytheagency.
5 2.Theguidanceandinstructionundersubsection1ofthissectionmustaddress,
6ifapplicable:
7 (1)Thepotentialeffectonthechildof:
8 (a)Apreviousadoptionorout-of-homeplacement;
9 (b)Multiplepreviousadoptionsorout-of-homeplacements;
10 (c)Trauma,insecureattachment,fetalalcoholexposure,ormalnutrition;
11 (d)Neglect,abuse,drugexposure,orsimilaradversity;
12 (e)Separationfromasiblingorsignificantcaregiver;and
13 (f)Adifferenceinethnicity,race,orculturalidentitybetweenthechildandthe
14prospectiveadoptiveparentorotherchildoftheparent;
15 (2)Informationavailablefromthefederalgovernmentontheprocessforthe
16childtoacquireUnitedStatescitizenship;and
17 (3)Anyothermatterthechild-placingagencyconsidersmaterialtothe
18adoption.
19 3.Theguidanceandinstructionundersubsection1ofthissectionmustbe
20provided:
HB2631 5 21 (1)ForadoptionofachildresidingintheUnitedStates,areasonabletimebefore
22theadoptionisfinalized;or
23 (2)Foranintercountryadoption,inaccordancewithfederallaw.
453.728.Onrequestofachildwhowasplacedforadoptionorthechild's
2adoptiveparent,thechild-placingagencyplacingthechildorthechildren'sdivision
3shallprovideinformationabouthowtoobtainfinancialassistanceorsupportservices:
4 (1)Toassistthechildorparenttorespondeffectivelytoadjustment,behavioral
5health,andotherchallenges;and
6 (2)Tohelppreservetheplacementoradoption.
453.730.1.Alawenforcementagencymayinvestigateanallegationthatachild-
2placingagencyhasfailedtocomplywithsections453.718to453.732andcommencean
3actionforinjunctiveorotherrelieforinitiateanadministrativeproceedingagainstthe
4child-placingagencytoenforcesections453.718to453.732.
5 2.Thechildren'sdivisionmayinitiateaproceedingtodeterminewhethera
6child-placingagencyhasfailedtocomplywithsections453.718to453.732.Ifthe
7children'sdivisionsfindsthatthechild-placingagencyhasfailedtocomply,the
8children'sdivisionmaysuspendorrevoketheagency'slicenseortakeotheraction
9permittedbylawofthisstate.
453.732.Thechildren'sdivisionmayadoptrulesunderchapter536to
2implementsections453.722,453.724,and453.728.
453.734.Inapplyingandconstruingthisuniformact,acourtshallconsiderthe
2promotionofuniformityofthelawamongjurisdictionsthatenactit.
453.736.Sections453.700to453.740modify,limit,orsupersedetheElectronic
2SignaturesinGlobalandNationalCommerceAct,15U.S.C.Section7001etseq.,as
3amended,butdonotmodify,limit,orsupersede15U.S.C.Section7001(c),orauthorize
4electronicdeliveryofanyofthenoticesdescribedin15U.S.C.Section7003(b).
453.738.1.Sections453.706to453.716applyto:
2 (1)AtransferofcustodyonorafterAugust28,2024;and
3 (2)SolicitingoradvertisingonorafterAugust28,2024.
4 2.Sections453.718to453.732applytoplacementofachildforadoptionmore
5thansixtydaysafterAugust28,2024.
453.740.Ifaprovisionofsections453.700to453.740oritsapplicationtoa
2personorcircumstanceisheldinvalid,theinvaliditydoesnotaffectanotherprovision
3orapplicationthatcanbegiveneffectwithouttheinvalidprovision.
453.742.Sections453.700to453.740supplementtheprovisionsunderthis
2chapterandchapter210forthetransferofcustodyofachild.Totheextentthe
3provisionsunderthischapterorchapter210areinconsistentwithsections453.700to
HB2631 6 4453.740,theprovisionsofsections453.700to453.740controlregardingthetransferof
5custodyofachild.
✔
HB2631 7