MO HB290

Adds licensed professional counselors and psychologists (associated with licensed child-placement agencies) to the list of persons authorized to conduct adoption suitability investigations, alongside existing options of family services division, juvenile court officers, licensed child-placement agencies, and social workers.

Requires the court-ordered adoption investigation report to be submitted within ninety days and must include an assessment of the adoptive parents, postplacement assessment, and a statement that the child has been considered as a potential subsidy recipient.

Requires the Missouri Supreme Court to develop a standardized adoption checklist form by January 1, 2014, to verify all required documents and procedures have been submitted and reviewed by the judge before entering a final adoption order.

Maintains the existing waiver allowing courts to skip the full investigation (except criminal background check) in stepparent adoptions where all required parents have consented.

Prohibits discrimination against prospective adoptive parents based on disability or disease, requiring a specific showing of causal relationship to substantial risk of harm to the child before such factors can be used to deny adoption.