Colorado Legislative Council Staff

NO FISCAL IMPACT

TITLE:            CONCERNING EXPEDITED METHODS OF ADOPTING CHILDREN.

Summary of Assessment

            The bill authorizes an expedited method for the adoption of children for custodial adoptions and kinship adoptions. The bill includes the following definitions:

            •   "custodial adoption" is an adoption by a person who either has an order of custody of the child or has been appointed legal guardian, and has had the child in his or her physical custody for a period of one year or more; and

            •   "kinship adoption" is an adoption by a relative of the child who is either a grandparent, brother, sister, half-sibling, aunt, uncle, or first cousin, and has had the child in his or her physical custody for a period of one year or more.

            The bill also specifies that termination of the parent-child legal relationship occurs in a stepparent adoption, kinship adoption, or custodial adoption. The bill excepts custodial and kinship adoptions from the investigation and written report requirements of the county departments of social services or a licensed child placement agency. The court is allowed to waive the assessment and approval of the potential adoptive parents or determine and order what information it deems necessary. The bill is effective upon signature of the Governor.

            The Department of Human Services indicates that the county departments of social services rarely provide services to the persons referenced in the bill, and is not anticipated to create workload in the county departments of social services. Therefore, the bill is assessed as having no fiscal impact.

Departments Contacted

            Human Services

            Judicial