HB23-1157: Uniform Unregulated Child Custody Transfer Act

• Prohibits parents, guardians, or custodians from transferring custody of a child to another person with intent to abandon parental rights and responsibilities, except through legal adoption, guardianship proceedings, judicial custody awards, or Colorado's Safe Haven law.

• Makes violation of the custody transfer prohibition a Class 2 misdemeanor; soliciting or advertising for illegal custody transfers is a Class 6 felony.

• Exempts transfers to parents, stepparents, blood relatives, adults with established relationships of at least six months, and Indian custodians under federal law from the prohibition.

• Requires child placement agencies to provide prospective adoptive parents with general adoption information, child-specific information, guidance, and information about adoption assistance before placement.

• Directs county departments to assess reported illegal custody transfers and report intercountry adoption cases to the State Department of Human Services, which must forward reports to the U.S. Department of State.