Disclosure of adoption records for purposes of determining the availability of a placement for a child with an adoptive parent or proposed adoptive parent of a sibling of the child

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Current law requires the Department of Children and Families (DCF), a county department of human services or social services (county department), or a child welfare agency to include in a child's permanency plan, which is a plan designed to ensure that the child quickly attains a placement or home providing long-term stability, a statement as to the availability of a safe and appropriate placement for the child with a foster parent, adoptive parent, or proposed adoptive parent of a sibling of the child. Current law also requires DCF, a county department, or a child welfare agency, before placing for adoption a child who has a sibling who has been adopted or has been placed for adoption, to consider the availability of a placement for adoption with an adoptive parent or proposed adoptive parent of a sibling of the child who is identified in the child's permanency plan or who is otherwise known by DCF, the county department, or the child welfare agency.

This bill permits records and papers pertaining to an adoption proceeding to be disclosed for purposes of determining the availability of a placement for a child with an adoptive parent or proposed adoptive parent of a sibling of the child. Currently, those records and papers must be kept in a separate locked file and may not be disclosed except under certain exceptions or by order of the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under the Children's Code for good cause shown.

Who's behind it

2 senators are its authors⁠. All 2 are Republicans.

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

• Amendment SA1-SB64
• LC Amendment Memo