HB 1342 Summary

• Creates the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Adoption Licensure Authority composed of 9 members: 3 appointed by the Department of Child Protection Services commissioner, 3 selected by licensed adoption agencies, and 3 selected by residential child-caring agencies.

• Establishes the Mississippi Adoption Relief Fund in the State Treasury funded by legislative appropriations, licensing fees, donations, and grants to support the board's licensing and regulatory duties for adoption agencies.

• Transfers licensing authority for adoption agencies from the Division of Family and Children's Services to the new Board of Trustees, which will recommend licensure decisions to the division and establish licensing standards, fees, and requirements.

• Requires any entity providing adoption services to obtain a license; defines adoption services broadly to include finding adoptive parents, placing children, soliciting funds, adoption counseling, and advertising for adoption purposes.

• Increases penalties for violations related to adoption services from $5,000 to $50,000 fine and/or up to 5 years imprisonment; exempts attorneys providing only legal services in adoption proceedings from licensure requirements.