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Panel advances bill clarifying counseling portion of adoptee-related financial assistance
Summary
Senate Bill 1104 was recommended to the Senate floor with a due pass; the bill clarifies that birth parents may use existing adoption-related medical/financial assistance for pre- and post-placement counseling, subject to a $2,000 cap.
The committee voted to send Senate Bill 1104 to the Senate floor with a due pass. Sponsor Senator Tammy Nichols said the bill clarifies existing law to explicitly allow birth parents to use covered medical/related financial assistance for counseling services pre-placement and for up to six post-placement counseling sessions, under the existing $2,000 cap.
"There's a $2,000 cap, and it's already included in current code. We just wanted to make sure that, under the definition of medical cost, that counseling services was also included in there," Senator Nichols said.
Teresa Markroft, testifying for the group Unplanned Good, supported the bill and said notifying birth parents of their ability to obtain independent legal advice and counseling helps protect birth parents and improves adoption outcomes.
Senator Lent moved to send SB 1104 to the floor with a due pass recommendation; the motion passed by voice vote. The bill text will move forward to the Senate for further consideration.
