House Bill 1513 Summary

• Establishes the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Adoption Licensure Authority consisting 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) to license and regulate adoption agencies and adoption services.

• Creates the Mississippi Adoption Relief Fund as a special state fund to support the board's operations, funded through legislative appropriations, licensing fees, donations, grants, and interest accrual.

• Expands the definition of "adoption services" to include locating adoptive parents, placing children for adoption, adoption counseling, financial aid, advertising for adoptions, and payment of medical, legal, and living expenses related to adoption proceedings.

• Requires adoption agencies to be Mississippi nonprofit organizations with an executive director domiciled in Mississippi and a physical office presence in the state, and mandates they be open to the public at least 30 hours per week.

• Prohibits attorneys and adoption agencies from sharing or disbursing fees to unlicensed persons for adoption services and requires full disclosure of all fees and monies paid in adoptions to the court.

• Amends child support enforcement provisions to require the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to suspend hunting and fishing licenses for individuals out of compliance with child support orders, and allows parties to submit proof of child support arrearage to licensing entities.