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Utah committee opens bill file after testimony on adoption "tourism" and agency practices
Summary
A legislative committee opened a bill file to study so-called adoption tourism after presentations and public testimony alleging out‑of‑state recruitment, large payments to birth mothers, gaps in father notice and concerns about Medicaid use and agency oversight.
A Utah legislative committee voted to open a committee bill file to study "adoption tourism" after presentations from state analysts, adoption professionals and public commentators who raised concerns about out‑of‑state recruitment, birth‑mother payments and notification of fathers.
Jonathan Adams, a policy analyst with the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, told the committee Utah is a national hub for private domestic adoptions and described laws and practices that make the state “adoption friendly.” Adams said private domestic adoption comprised 77% of recorded Utah adoptions in 2023 and that Utah’s adjusted rate was about 11.1 adoptions per 10,000 households versus a national average of 4.9.
The committee heard extended testimony from Tara Romney Barber, adoption and clinical programs director at Children’s Service Society of Utah, who said in some cases expectant mothers are transported to Utah late in pregnancy and receive housing, medical care and cash stipends. “These indigent women are promised free luxury housing, free medical care, food, transportation, often provided monthly cash stipends for living expenses, and in some cases, a post pay placement cash payout,” Barber said.
Kelsey Vanderblayt Ranyard, co‑founder of…
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