HB4641 Summary

• Amends the Child Care Act of 1969 and the Adoption Act to establish "adoption-only homes" as a distinct category that does not require licensing as a child care facility but must meet specific approval requirements set by licensed child welfare agencies.

• Requires adoption-only homes to meet nine approval criteria including home studies, criminal background checks, child abuse registry checks, health assessments, financial review, character references, home safety evaluation, adoption education, and pre-placement and post-placement supervision.

• Establishes criminal background check standards for adoption-only homes that prohibit approval if residents have felony convictions for crimes against children, recent felonies for violent crimes or drug offenses, or any felony conviction for homicide, rape, or sexual assault.

• Expands birth parent rights forms and adoptive parent rights and responsibilities forms for private adoptions to include information about medical registries, confidential intermediary programs, and procedures for voluntary information sharing.

• Adds new requirements for private adoptions including background checks for all household members, home assessments by court-appointed investigators or guardians ad litem, and provision of disclosure forms to adoptive parents regarding their rights and responsibilities.