HB 5148 Summary

• Only persons authorized under sections 23a(1), 23b(1), and 23c of the adoption statute may place children for adoption, or advertise for and solicit prospective adoptive parents.

• Prospective adoptive parents may advertise for, solicit, or recruit biological parents or guardians; biological parents, courts, departments, and child placing agencies may only recruit adoptive parents to facilitate court-supervised adoption of specific children.

• First violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days imprisonment or a fine up to $100, or both; subsequent violations are felonies punishable by up to 4 years imprisonment or a fine up to $2,000, or both.

• "Advertise for, solicit, or recruit" means communicating in person, in writing, or through any public or private medium to locate a previously unknown person or entity for temporary or permanent child placement, but excludes attorney advertisements of legal services under Michigan professional conduct rules.

• Effective immediately upon Governor's approval on October 8, 2020.