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Pennsylvania House of Representatives

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Pennsylvania House of Representatives

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?SPick=20150&chamber=H&cosponId=17119

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House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	February 2, 2015 01:37 PM
From:	Representative Scott A. Petri
To:	All House members
Subject:	Adoption Package

In the near future, I intend to reintroduce the following bills pertaining to adoptions. If you have any questions, or if you would like a copy of the bill language, please contact Lea Farrell at 787-9033 or lfarrell@pahousegop.com.

Document #1

Description:	Former House Bill 727 (Removes the Intermediary Report Requirement from the Adoption Process): The report of the intermediary contains vital statistics about the birth parents and the child, financial information pertinent to the intermediary, and medical history information. The report must be done by an agency or person that is acting as an intermediary between the adoptive parents and the birth parents. If an agency has not been used as an intermediary, the adoptive parents must solicit an agency or person as an intermediary to perform this function. After reviewing the report of the intermediary, I determined that the information collected in this report could be provided during the petition for adoption. Much of the information required in the report of the intermediary was again required for the petition for adoption. My goal is that the deletion of this report will streamline the adoption process, thereby making it easier and less costly to adopt children awaiting families and homes.

Document #2

Description:	Former House Bill 728 (Counseling Services): This legislation will amend the Domestic Relations Code by establishing a new section, which will prescribe the process for adoption related counseling services to be administered by each county within the Commonwealth. This proposal will require that each county establish a specific fund for providing counseling services for birth parents in addition to developing and maintaining a list of qualified counselors. Furthermore, my proposal provides for a right to counseling whenever the parents are found to be unable to pay for counseling or may face financial hardship as a result of payment.

Document #3

Description:	Former House Bill 729 (Procedures for Terminating Parental Rights): This legislation will amend the Domestic Relations Code by doing the following: Requires the courts to set a hearing date no more than 20 days after the relinquishment petition has been filed. Under the alternative procedure for relinquishment, the court must set a hearing date no more than 40 days after the petition has been filed; Provides the procedure for notification of proceedings to putative fathers as well as the procedure to terminate the putative father’s parental rights; Constricts the time from 30 to five days in which the consent to an adoption by the birth mother, father, or putative father can be revoked; Includes reasonable and specific living expenses incurred by the natural mother three months prior to the due date and 60 days after the birth of the child as permissible reimbursement of expenses by the adoptive parents; Further defines the validity of consent with respect to both the birth mother and putative father and the procedure to challenge the validity of consent; and Allows the birth mother, father, or putative father to execute a waiver of notice requirements.

Document #4

Description:	Former House Bill 733 (Adoption Care): This legislation requires that reasonable and specific living expenses incurred by the natural mother be provided three months prior to the due date and 60 days after the birth of the child.

Document #5

Description:	Former House Bill 736 (Appeal of Local Adoption Subsidy): This bill provides for the ability of adoptive families to appeal to the Department of Human Services the adoption subsidy amount provided by local authorities.

Document #6

Description:	Former House Bill 738 (Adoption Consents and Notices): This legislation amends the Domestic Relations Code by: Constricting the time to 96 hours in which the consent to an adoption by the birth mother or father or putative father can be revoked; Further defines the validity of consent with respect to both the birth mother and putative father; and Provides that no further notice relating to consent hearings are necessary when parental rights are terminated, such individuals have executed consent to adopt, and the consents are valid.

Document #7

Description:	Former House Bill 739 (Licensed Intermediary): This bill adds to the definition of “Intermediary” the requirement that persons acting in such capacity be licensed attorneys or social workers.

Document #8

Description:	Former House Bill 740 (Relinquishment of Parental Rights Procedure): This legislation adds a provision to the Domestic Relations Code stating that the court may enter a decree of termination of parental rights in the case of their relinquishment to an adult or a decree of termination of parental rights and duties, including the obligation of support, in the case of their relinquishment to an agency.