IN HR0011

Urges the legislative council to assign the topic of adoption costs and barriers to the appropriate study committee for investigation

Notes that 641,000 children lived in foster care in 2012, with 102,000 remaining legally available for adoption despite 52,000 adoptions

Identifies licensed agency adoptions as costing between $5,000 to $40,000 or more to complete and maintain, creating financial barriers to adoption

Recognizes that adoption processes typically take months or years, presenting both time and cost obstacles to prospective families

Requests thorough investigation into ways to reduce adoption costs and barriers to enable more children to find permanent, stable homes