PRINTER'S NO. 1110
No. 966 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY BRIGHTBILL, SALVATORE, JUBELIRER, ROCKS,
PORTERFIELD, JONES, FISHER, BELL, HELFRICK, GREENWOOD,
REIBMAN, BELAN, HOPPER AND WENGER, MAY 23, 1989
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, MAY 23, 1989
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, further providing for investigations
3 in adoptions.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Sections 2535(b) and 2724(b) of Title 23 of the
7 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
8 § 2535. Investigation.
9 * * *
10 (b) Matters covered.--The investigation shall include a
11 visit to the home of the adopting parents and shall cover all
12 pertinent information regarding the child's eligibility for
13 adoption and the suitability of the placement, including the
14 physical, mental and emotional needs and welfare of the child[,
15 and]; the child's and the adopting parents' age, sex, health and
16 racial, ethnic and religious background; founded reports under
17 the act of November 26, 1975 (P.L.438, No.124), known as the
18 Child Protective Services Law; and criminal history record
1 information under 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 91 (relating to criminal
2 history record information).
3 * * *
4 § 2724. Testimony and investigation.
5 * * *
6 (b) Investigation.--The court may request that an
7 investigation be made by a person or public agency or, with its
8 consent, a voluntary agency, specifically designated by the
9 court to verify the statements of the petition and such other
10 facts that will give the court full knowledge of the
11 desirability of the proposed adoption[, or]; and the [court may
12 rely in whole or in part upon a report earlier made]
13 investigation shall include a visit to the home of the adopting
14 parents and shall cover matters listed under section 2535(b)
15 (relating to investigation). In any case, the age, sex, health,
16 social and economic status or racial, ethnic or religious
17 background of the child or adopting parents shall not preclude
18 an adoption but the court shall decide its desirability on the
19 basis of the physical, mental and emotional needs and welfare of
20 the child.
21 * * *
22 Section 2. This act shall apply to adoptions in which the
23 hearing is held on or after the effective date of this act.
24 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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