CO SB224

Repeal and reenact Article 7 of Title 26 to update Colorado's adoption assistance program, which provides cash subsidies and services to families adopting children with special needs

Require state department to collect data on program effectiveness and publish annual reports on program costs, service types, dissolved adoptions, and program evaluations beginning July 1, 2019

Establish that adoption assistance agreements must be negotiated between parties addressing each child's unique needs, reviewed at least every three years, and may be adjusted with adoptive parents' consent

Define "special needs" to include physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, emotional disturbances, hereditary factors, HIV-positive or drug/alcohol-exposed status, age over seven years, sibling groups, and ethnic/minority background factors

Allow adoptive parents to appeal eligibility determinations, benefit decisions, or agreement terminations to an administrative law judge under the State Administrative Procedure Act