IA HF314

Allows courts to waive preplacement investigation and report requirements for adoption petitioners who are relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity to the person being adopted

Permits waiver of preplacement investigations for legal guardians who have served as the child's guardian for at least 36 consecutive months before filing the adoption petition and have complied with guardianship reporting requirements under section 232D.402

Exempts adult adoptions and stepparent adoptions from preplacement investigation requirements, though courts may still order investigations in stepparent cases upon request or on their own motion

Requires adoption petitioners with criminal convictions or deferred judgments (other than simple misdemeanors) or founded child abuse reports to notify the court before the final adoption hearing, with the court making a specific ruling on whether to waive investigation requirements

Extends the existing two-year validity period for preplacement investigation reports to relatives within the fourth degree who have assumed custody of a minor, allowing investigations to be completed at a court-established time or waived entirely