SB270 Summary

• Expands adoption subsidy eligibility to cases involving parental relinquishment of rights (not just permanent department custody) and aligns with federal Title IV-E funding requirements.

• Eliminates requirement to prove reasonable efforts to place children without subsidy when foster parents are adopting; clarifies subsidy payments continue if adoptive family moves to another state if child's needs remain the same.

• Restricts subsidy payments to children who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, with exception for children adopted internationally whose adoption failed.

• Extends subsidy eligibility to children ages 18-21 who are enrolled in school, pursuing career/technical education, employed at least 80 hours monthly, or have physical/mental disabilities requiring continued support.

• Establishes detailed definitions of special needs conditions (physical/mental disabilities, emotional disturbance, high-risk disease, age, sibling relationships, racial/ethnic factors) and creates 30-day appeal process for denied, reduced, or terminated subsidies under Alabama Administrative Procedure Act.