SB19-178 Summary

• Establishes a comprehensive adoption assistance program administered by county departments to provide subsidies and services to families adopting eligible children with special needs or barriers to adoption.

• Eligible children include those meeting federal supplemental security income disability requirements or having documented physical, mental, emotional, developmental, or educational disabilities; being in a high-risk category; being over seven years old; or belonging to minority groups difficult to place.

• Benefits available include monthly subsidy payments (not exceeding foster care maintenance rates), medical assistance, and reimbursement for nonrecurring adoption expenses such as fees, court costs, and attorney fees.

• Prohibits means testing in family selection and benefit determination; requires good-faith negotiation of adoption assistance agreements between adoptive parents and county departments addressing the child's anticipated needs.

• Appropriates $42,143 in general funds for fiscal year 2019-20 to implement the program, with anticipated receipt of $18,061 in federal funds.