Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that amends and modernizes state adoption services in Ohio.

Highlights:

• Amends and modernizes state adoption services and regulations in Ohio, including, but not limited to (Sec. 1-3):

• Improving consistency from county to county;

• Establishing a 6 month waiting period in foster-to-adopt situations while allowing the time spent in foster care to count towards the waiting period and include a kinship provision to speed up the process;

• Allowing adults with developmental disabilities to be adopted along with adults with intellectual disabilities;

• Increasing financial support for pregnant mothers to cover living expenses from $3,000 to $6,000;

• Allowing a court to reconsider an adoption decree if there is evidence the child is a victim of trafficking; and

• Amending foreign adoptions to allow foreign adoption decrees to be automatically finalized if either parent is an Ohio resident and an IR-3 or IH-3 visa has been issued to the child by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text