| 1 | 1 | | FIRSTREGULARSESSION |
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| 2 | 2 | | HOUSEBILLNO.1150 |
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| 3 | 3 | | 103RDGENERALASSEMBLY |
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| 4 | 4 | | INTRODUCEDBYREPRESENTATIVEHAUSMAN. |
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| 5 | 5 | | 0168H.01I JOSEPHENGLER,ChiefClerk |
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| 6 | 6 | | ANACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | Toamendchapter453,RSMo,byaddingtheretotwenty-twonewsectionsrelatingto |
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| 8 | 8 | | unregulatedchildcustodytransfers,withpenaltyprovisions. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BeitenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyofthestateofMissouri,asfollows: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SectionA.Chapter453,RSMo,isamendedbyaddingtheretotwenty-twonew |
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| 11 | 11 | | 2sections,tobeknownassections453.700,453.702,453.704,453.706,453.708,453.710, |
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| 12 | 12 | | 3453.712,453.714,453.716,453.718,453.720,453.722,453.724,453.726,453.728,453.730, |
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| 13 | 13 | | 4453.732,453.734,453.736,453.738,453.740,and453.742,toreadasfollows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | 453.700.Sections453.700to453.740maybecitedasthe"UniformUnregulated |
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| 15 | 15 | | 2ChildCustodyTransferAct". |
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| 16 | 16 | | 453.702.Insections453.700to453.740: |
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| 17 | 17 | | 2 (1)"Child"meansanunemancipatedindividualundereighteenyearsofage; |
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| 18 | 18 | | 3 (2)"Child-placingagency"meansapersonwithauthorityunderotherlawof |
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| 19 | 19 | | 4thisstatetoidentifyorplaceachildforadoption.Thetermdoesnotincludeaparentof |
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| 20 | 20 | | 5thechild; |
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| 21 | 21 | | 6 (3)"Custody"meanstheexerciseofphysicalcareandsupervisionofachild; |
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| 22 | 22 | | 7 (4)"Intercountryadoption"meansanadoptionorplacementforadoptionofa |
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| 23 | 23 | | 8childwhoresidesinaforeigncountryatthetimeofadoptionorplacement.Theterm |
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| 24 | 24 | | 9includesanadoptionfinalizedinthechild'scountryofresidenceorinastate; |
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| 25 | 25 | | 10 (5)"Parent"meansanindividualrecognizedasaparentunderotherlawofthis |
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| 26 | 26 | | 11state; |
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| 27 | 27 | | EXPLANATION—Matterenclosedinbold-facedbrackets[thus] intheabovebillisnotenactedandis |
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| 28 | 28 | | intendedtobeomittedfromthelaw.Matterinbold-facetypeintheabovebillisproposedlanguage. 12 (6)"Person"meansanindividual,estate,businessornonprofitentity,public |
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| 29 | 29 | | 13corporation,governmentorgovernmentalsubdivision,agency,orinstrumentality,or |
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| 30 | 30 | | 14otherlegalentity; |
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| 31 | 31 | | 15 (7)"Record"meansinformation: |
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| 32 | 32 | | 16 (a)Inscribedonatangiblemedium;or |
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| 33 | 33 | | 17 (b)Storedinanelectronicorothermediumandretrievableinperceivableform; |
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| 34 | 34 | | 18 (8)"State"meansastateoftheUnitedStates,theDistrictofColumbia,Puerto |
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| 35 | 35 | | 19Rico,theUnitedStatesVirginIslands,oranyotherterritoryorpossessionsubjecttothe |
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| 36 | 36 | | 20jurisdictionoftheUnitedStates.ThetermincludesafederallyrecognizedIndiantribe. |
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| 37 | 37 | | 453.704.Sections453.700to453.740donotapplytocustodyofanIndianchild, |
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| 38 | 38 | | 2asdefinedinSection4(4)oftheIndianChildWelfareActof1978,25U.S.C.Section |
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| 39 | 39 | | 31903(4),asamended,totheextentcustodyisgovernedbytheIndianChildWelfareAct |
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| 40 | 40 | | 4of1978,25U.S.C.Sections1901through1963,asamended. |
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| 41 | 41 | | 453.706.Insections453.706to453.716: |
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| 42 | 42 | | 2 (1)"Guardian"meansapersonrecognizedasaguardianunderotherlawofthis |
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| 43 | 43 | | 3state; |
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| 44 | 44 | | 4 (2)"Intermediary"meansapersonthatassistsorfacilitatesatransferof |
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| 45 | 45 | | 5custodyofachild,whetherornotforcompensation. |
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| 46 | 46 | | 453.708.Sections453.706to453.716donotapplytoatransferofcustodyofa |
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| 47 | 47 | | 2childbyaparentorguardianofthechildto: |
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| 48 | 48 | | 3 (1)Aparentofthechild; |
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| 49 | 49 | | 4 (2)Astepparentofthechild; |
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| 50 | 50 | | 5 (3)Anadultwhoisrelatedtothechildbyblood,marriage,oradoption; |
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| 51 | 51 | | 6 (4)Anadultwho,atthetimeofthetransfer,hadacloserelationshipwiththe |
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| 52 | 52 | | 7childortheparentorguardianofthechildforasubstantialperiod,andwhomthe |
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| 53 | 53 | | 8parentorguardianreasonablybelieves,atthetimeofthetransfer,tobeafitcustodian |
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| 54 | 54 | | 9ofthechild; |
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| 55 | 55 | | 10 (5)AnIndiancustodian,asdefinedinSection4(6)oftheIndianChildWelfare |
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| 56 | 56 | | 11Actof1978,25U.S.C.Section1903(6),asamended,ofthechild;or |
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| 57 | 57 | | 12 (6)Amemberofthechild'scustomaryfamilyunitrecognizedbythechild's |
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| 58 | 58 | | 13indigenousgroupunderotherlawofthisstate. |
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| 59 | 59 | | 453.710.1.Exceptasprovidedinsubsection2ofthissection,aparentor |
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| 60 | 60 | | 2guardianofachildoranindividualwithwhomachildhasbeenplacedforadoption |
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| 61 | 61 | | 3maynottransfercustodyofthechildtoanotherpersonwiththeintent,atthetimeofthe |
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| 62 | 62 | | 4transfer,toabandontherightsandresponsibilitiesconcerningthechild. |
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| 63 | 63 | | 5 2.Aparentorguardianofachildoranindividualwithwhomachildhasbeen |
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| 64 | 64 | | 6placedforadoptionmaytransfercustodyofthechildtoanotherpersonwiththeintent, |
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| 65 | 65 | | HB1150 2 7atthetimeofthetransfer,toabandontherightsandresponsibilitiesconcerningthe |
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| 66 | 66 | | 8childonlythrough: |
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| 67 | 67 | | 9 (1)Adoptionorguardianship; |
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| 68 | 68 | | 10 (2)Judicialawardofcustody; |
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| 69 | 69 | | 11 (3)Placementbyorthroughachild-placingagency; |
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| 70 | 70 | | 12 (4)Otherjudicialortribalaction;or |
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| 71 | 71 | | 13 (5)Safeplacefornewbornsactof2002undersection210.950. |
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| 72 | 72 | | 14 3.Apersonmaynotreceivecustodyofachild,oractasanintermediaryina |
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| 73 | 73 | | 15transferofcustodyofachild,ifthepersonknowsorreasonablyshouldknowthe |
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| 74 | 74 | | 16transferviolatessubsection1ofthissection.Thisprohibitiondoesnotapplyifthe |
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| 75 | 75 | | 17person,assoonaspracticableafterthetransfer,notifiesthechildren'sdivisionofthe |
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| 76 | 76 | | 18transferortakesappropriateactiontoestablishcustodyundersubsection2ofthis |
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| 77 | 77 | | 19section. |
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| 78 | 78 | | 20 4.ViolationofthissectionisaclassBmisdemeanor. |
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| 79 | 79 | | 21 5.Violationofsubsection1ofthissectionisnotestablishedsolelybecausea |
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| 80 | 80 | | 22parentorguardianthattransferscustodyofachilddoesnotregaincustody. |
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| 81 | 81 | | 453.712.1.Ifthechildren'sdivisionhasareasonablebasistobelievethata |
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| 82 | 82 | | 2personhastransferredorwilltransfercustodyofachildinviolationofsubsection1of |
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| 83 | 83 | | 3section453.710,thechildren'sdivisionmayconductahomevisitasprovidedbyother |
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| 84 | 84 | | 4lawofthisstateandtakeappropriateactiontoprotectthewelfareofthechild. |
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| 85 | 85 | | 5 2.Ifthechildren'sdivisionconductsahomevisitforachildadoptedorplaced |
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| 86 | 86 | | 6throughanintercountryadoption,thechildren'sdivisionsshall: |
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| 87 | 87 | | 7 (1)Prepareareportonthewelfareandplanforpermanentplacementofthe |
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| 88 | 88 | | 8child;and |
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| 89 | 89 | | 9 (2)ProvideacopytotheUnitedStatesDepartmentofState. |
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| 90 | 90 | | 10 3.Sections453.700to453.740donotpreventthechildren'sdivisionfromtaking |
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| 91 | 91 | | 11appropriateactionunderotherlawofthisstate. |
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| 92 | 92 | | 453.714.1.Apersonmaynotsolicitoradvertiseto: |
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| 93 | 93 | | 2 (1)Identifyapersontowhichtomakeatransferofcustodyinviolationof |
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| 94 | 94 | | 3subsection1ofsection453.710; |
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| 95 | 95 | | 4 (2)Identifyachildforatransferofcustodyinviolationofsubsection3ofsection |
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| 96 | 96 | | 5453.710;or |
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| 97 | 97 | | 6 (3)Actasanintermediaryinatransferofcustodyinviolationofsubsection3of |
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| 98 | 98 | | 7section453.710. |
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| 99 | 99 | | 8 2.ViolationofthissectionisaclassBmisdemeanor. |
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| 100 | 100 | | 453.716.Alawenforcementagencymayinvestigateapossibleviolationof |
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| 101 | 101 | | 2sections453.706to453.714andtakelegalactionasprovidedbylawofthisstate. |
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| 102 | 102 | | HB1150 3 453.718.Insections453.718to453.732,"prospectiveadoptiveparent"meansan |
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| 103 | 103 | | 2individualwhohasbeenapprovedorpermittedunderotherlawofthisstatetoadopta |
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| 104 | 104 | | 3child. |
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| 105 | 105 | | 453.720.Sections453.718to453.732applytoplacementforadoptionofachild |
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| 106 | 106 | | 2who: |
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| 107 | 107 | | 3 (1)Hasbeenorisinfosterorinstitutionalcare; |
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| 108 | 108 | | 4 (2)Previouslyhasbeenadoptedinastate; |
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| 109 | 109 | | 5 (3)Hasbeenorisbeingadoptedunderthelawofaforeigncountry; |
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| 110 | 110 | | 6 (4)Hascomeoriscomingtoastatefromaforeigncountrytobeadopted;or |
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| 111 | 111 | | 7 (5)IsnotacitizenoftheUnitedStates. |
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| 112 | 112 | | 453.722.Withinareasonabletimebeforeachild-placingagencyplacesachild |
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| 113 | 113 | | 2foradoptionwithaprospectiveadoptiveparent,theagencyshallprovideorcausetobe |
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| 114 | 114 | | 3providedtotheprospectiveadoptiveparentgeneraladoptioninformation.The |
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| 115 | 115 | | 4informationmustaddress: |
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| 116 | 116 | | 5 (1)Possiblephysical,mental,emotional,andbehavioralissuesconcerning: |
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| 117 | 117 | | 6 (a)Identity,loss,andtraumathatachildmightexperiencebefore,during,or |
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| 118 | 118 | | 7afteradoption;and |
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| 119 | 119 | | 8 (b)Achildleavingfamiliartiesandsurroundings; |
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| 120 | 120 | | 9 (2)Theeffectthataccesstoresources,includinghealthinsurance,mayhaveon |
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| 121 | 121 | | 10theabilityofanadoptiveparenttomeettheneedsofachild; |
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| 122 | 122 | | 11 (3)Causesofdisruptionofanadoptiveplacementordissolutionofanadoption |
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| 123 | 123 | | 12andresourcesavailabletohelpavoiddisruptionordissolution;and |
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| 124 | 124 | | 13 (4)Prohibitionsundersections453.710and453.714. |
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| 125 | 125 | | 453.724.1.Exceptasprohibitedbyotherlawofthisstate,withinareasonable |
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| 126 | 126 | | 2timebeforeachild-placingagencyplacesachildforadoptionwithaprospective |
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| 127 | 127 | | 3adoptiveparent,theagencyshallprovideorcausetobeprovidedtotheprospective |
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| 128 | 128 | | 4adoptiveparentinformationspecifictothechildthatisknowntoorreasonably |
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| 129 | 129 | | 5obtainablebytheagencyandmaterialtotheprospectiveadoptiveparent’sinformed |
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| 130 | 130 | | 6decisiontoadoptthechild.Theinformationmustinclude: |
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| 131 | 131 | | 7 (1)Thechild'sfamily,cultural,racial,religious,ethnic,linguistic,and |
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| 132 | 132 | | 8educationalbackground; |
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| 133 | 133 | | 9 (2)Thechild'sphysical,mental,emotional,andbehavioralhealth; |
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| 134 | 134 | | 10 (3)Circumstancesthatmightadverselyaffectthechild'sphysical,mental, |
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| 135 | 135 | | 11emotional,orbehavioralhealth; |
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| 136 | 136 | | 12 (4)Thechild'smedicalhistory,includingimmunizations; |
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| 137 | 137 | | 13 (5)Themedicalhistoryofthechild'sgeneticparentsandsiblings; |
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| 138 | 138 | | HB1150 4 14 (6)Thehistoryofanadoptiveorout-of-homeplacementofthechildandthe |
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| 139 | 139 | | 15reasontheadoptionorplacementended; |
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| 140 | 140 | | 16 (7)Thechild'sUnitedStatesimmigrationstatus; |
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| 141 | 141 | | 17 (8)Medical,therapeutic,andeducationalresources,includinglanguage- |
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| 142 | 142 | | 18acquisitiontraining,availabletotheadoptiveparentandchildafterplacementfor |
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| 143 | 143 | | 19adoptionoradoptiontoassistinrespondingeffectivelytophysical,mental,emotional, |
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| 144 | 144 | | 20orbehavioralhealthissues;and |
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| 145 | 145 | | 21 (9)Availablerecordsrelevanttotheinformationinsubdivisions(1)through(8) |
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| 146 | 146 | | 22ofthissubsection. |
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| 147 | 147 | | 23 2.If,beforeanadoptionisfinalized,additionalinformationundersubsection1 |
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| 148 | 148 | | 24ofthissectionthatismaterialtoaprospectiveadoptiveparent'sinformeddecisionto |
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| 149 | 149 | | 25adoptthechildbecomesknowntoorreasonablyobtainablebythechild-placingagency, |
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| 150 | 150 | | 26theagencyshallprovidetheinformationtotheprospectiveadoptiveparent. |
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| 151 | 151 | | 27 3.If,afteranadoptionisfinalized,additionalinformationundersubsection1of |
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| 152 | 152 | | 28thissectionbecomesknowntothechild-placingagency,theagencyshallmakea |
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| 153 | 153 | | 29reasonableefforttoprovidetheinformationtotheadoptiveparent. |
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| 154 | 154 | | 453.726.1.Achild-placingagencyplacingachildforadoptionshallprovideor |
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| 155 | 155 | | 2causetobeprovidedtotheprospectiveadoptiveparentguidanceandinstruction |
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| 156 | 156 | | 3specifictothechildtohelppreparetheparenttorespondeffectivelytoneedsofthechild |
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| 157 | 157 | | 4thatareknowntoorreasonablyascertainablebytheagency. |
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| 158 | 158 | | 5 2.Theguidanceandinstructionundersubsection1ofthissectionmustaddress, |
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| 159 | 159 | | 6ifapplicable: |
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| 160 | 160 | | 7 (1)Thepotentialeffectonthechildof: |
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| 161 | 161 | | 8 (a)Apreviousadoptionorout-of-homeplacement; |
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| 162 | 162 | | 9 (b)Multiplepreviousadoptionsorout-of-homeplacements; |
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| 163 | 163 | | 10 (c)Trauma,insecureattachment,fetalalcoholexposure,ormalnutrition; |
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| 164 | 164 | | 11 (d)Neglect,abuse,drugexposure,orsimilaradversity; |
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| 165 | 165 | | 12 (e)Separationfromasiblingorsignificantcaregiver;and |
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| 166 | 166 | | 13 (f)Adifferenceinethnicity,race,orculturalidentitybetweenthechildandthe |
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| 167 | 167 | | 14prospectiveadoptiveparentorotherchildoftheparent; |
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| 168 | 168 | | 15 (2)Informationavailablefromthefederalgovernmentontheprocessforthe |
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| 169 | 169 | | 16childtoacquireUnitedStatescitizenship;and |
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| 170 | 170 | | 17 (3)Anyothermatterthechild-placingagencyconsidersmaterialtothe |
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| 171 | 171 | | 18adoption. |
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| 172 | 172 | | 19 3.Theguidanceandinstructionundersubsection1ofthissectionmustbe |
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| 173 | 173 | | 20provided: |
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| 174 | 174 | | HB1150 5 21 (1)ForadoptionofachildresidingintheUnitedStates,areasonabletimebefore |
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| 175 | 175 | | 22theadoptionisfinalized;or |
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| 176 | 176 | | 23 (2)Foranintercountryadoption,inaccordancewithfederallaw. |
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| 177 | 177 | | 453.728.Onrequestofachildwhowasplacedforadoptionorthechild's |
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| 178 | 178 | | 2adoptiveparent,thechild-placingagencyplacingthechildorthechildren'sdivision |
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| 179 | 179 | | 3shallprovideinformationabouthowtoobtainfinancialassistanceorsupportservices: |
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| 180 | 180 | | 4 (1)Toassistthechildorparenttorespondeffectivelytoadjustment,behavioral |
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| 181 | 181 | | 5health,andotherchallenges;and |
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| 182 | 182 | | 6 (2)Tohelppreservetheplacementoradoption. |
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| 183 | 183 | | 453.730.1.Alawenforcementagencymayinvestigateanallegationthatachild- |
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| 184 | 184 | | 2placingagencyhasfailedtocomplywithsections453.718to453.732andcommencean |
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| 185 | 185 | | 3actionforinjunctiveorotherrelieforinitiateanadministrativeproceedingagainstthe |
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| 186 | 186 | | 4child-placingagencytoenforcesections453.718to453.732. |
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| 187 | 187 | | 5 2.Thechildren'sdivisionmayinitiateaproceedingtodeterminewhethera |
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| 188 | 188 | | 6child-placingagencyhasfailedtocomplywithsections453.718to453.732.Ifthe |
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| 189 | 189 | | 7children'sdivisionsfindsthatthechild-placingagencyhasfailedtocomply,the |
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| 190 | 190 | | 8children'sdivisionmaysuspendorrevoketheagency'slicenseortakeotheraction |
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| 191 | 191 | | 9permittedbylawofthisstate. |
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| 192 | 192 | | 453.732.Thechildren'sdivisionmayadoptrulesunderchapter536to |
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| 193 | 193 | | 2implementsections453.722,453.724,and453.728. |
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| 194 | 194 | | 453.734.Inapplyingandconstruingthisuniformact,acourtshallconsiderthe |
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| 195 | 195 | | 2promotionofuniformityofthelawamongjurisdictionsthatenactit. |
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| 196 | 196 | | 453.736.Sections453.700to453.740modify,limit,orsupersedetheElectronic |
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| 197 | 197 | | 2SignaturesinGlobalandNationalCommerceAct,15U.S.C.Section7001etseq.,as |
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| 198 | 198 | | 3amended,butdonotmodify,limit,orsupersede15U.S.C.Section7001(c),orauthorize |
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| 199 | 199 | | 4electronicdeliveryofanyofthenoticesdescribedin15U.S.C.Section7003(b). |
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| 200 | 200 | | 453.738.1.Sections453.706to453.716applyto: |
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| 201 | 201 | | 2 (1)AtransferofcustodyonorafterAugust28,2025;and |
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| 202 | 202 | | 3 (2)SolicitingoradvertisingonorafterAugust28,2025. |
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| 203 | 203 | | 4 2.Sections453.718to453.732applytoplacementofachildforadoptionmore |
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| 204 | 204 | | 5thansixtydaysafterAugust28,2025. |
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| 205 | 205 | | 453.740.Ifaprovisionofsections453.700to453.740oritsapplicationtoa |
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| 206 | 206 | | 2personorcircumstanceisheldinvalid,theinvaliditydoesnotaffectanotherprovision |
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| 207 | 207 | | 3orapplicationthatcanbegiveneffectwithouttheinvalidprovision. |
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| 208 | 208 | | 453.742.Sections453.700to453.740supplementtheprovisionsunderthis |
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| 209 | 209 | | 2chapterandchapter210forthetransferofcustodyofachild.Totheextentthe |
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| 210 | 210 | | 3provisionsunderthischapterorchapter210areinconsistentwithsections453.700to |
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| 211 | 211 | | HB1150 6 4453.740,theprovisionsofsections453.700to453.740controlregardingthetransferof |
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| 212 | 212 | | 5custodyofachild. |
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| 213 | 213 | | ✔ |
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| 214 | 214 | | HB1150 7 |
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