SB 1040 Summary

• Requires the State Department of Social Services to establish a working group by April 1, 2017, to review challenges facing adoptive families and identify community resources to assist them.

• Working group must consult with child advocacy organizations, adoption attorneys, judges, the Attorney General, law enforcement, foster care organizations, county welfare officials, and youth development experts.

• Working group shall develop recommendations addressing pre-adoption education, services for special needs and international adoptions, mental health professional training, recruitment of adoptive families, and best practices for tracking postadoption instability data.

• Recommendations must assess gaps in existing law regarding unlawful custody transfers and creation of a clearinghouse for services and resources for children at risk of custody instability.

• Report with recommendations must be submitted to appropriate legislative policy committees by April 1, 2018; reporting requirement expires June 1, 2022.