AB 677 — Intercountry adoption finalized in a foreign country.

Summary

Existing law generally provides for the adoption of a child native to a foreign country by a prospective adoptive parent or parents who are California residents that is either finalized in another country or this state. Existing law requires a licensed adoption agency facilitating an intercountry adoption that will be finalized in a foreign country to provide specific services that include certification to the federal government as to whether this state's intercountry adoption requirements have been met. Existing law requires a resident of the state who adopts a child through an intercountry adoption that is finalized in a foreign country to readopt the child in this state if it is required by the United States Department of Homeland Security, and requires this readoption to include at least one postplacement in-home visit, a home study report, and final adoption order. Existing law also authorizes a resident of the state who adopts a child through an intercountry adoption that is finalized in a foreign country to readopt the child in this state. This bill would repeal those readoption provisions and would instead require an adoptive parent, or if an adoptive parent fails to do so, then the adoption agency that facilitated the adoption, to file a petition to readopt within specified deadlines to establish a record by which an adoptee can prove the facts of the foreign adoption. The bill would require the petition to include, among other things, a report from at least one postplacement home visit by an intercountry adoption agency or a contractor of that agency licensed to provide intercountry adoption services in the state. The bill would require the clerk of the court to submit an order granting the petition to the State Registrar, would require the State Registrar to issue a delayed registration of birth, as specified, and would authorize an adoptive parent to obtain a California birth certificate for that child. The bill would require an adoption agency to report the arrival of an adoptee whose adoption was finalized in a foreign country to the department within 14 calendar days, and would authorize the department to take disciplinary action if the adoption agency fails to report the arrival or fails to file a petition to readopt. This bill would require a court that finds a child may be the subject of human trafficking or specified types of abuse to notify all appropriate authorities. This bill would, if a licensed adoption agency has a written agreement for which postadoption services have been paid, require the licensed adoption agency to provide those services, and would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes to the other services a licensed adoption agency facilitating an intercountry adoption is required to provide.

Bill Text

• Chaptered 10/12/19 - Chaptered Current pdf October 12, 2019
• Enrolled 09/11/19 - Enrolled pdf September 11, 2019
• Amended 08/30/19 - Amended Senate pdf August 30, 2019
• Amended 03/20/19 - Amended Assembly pdf March 20, 2019
• Introduced 02/15/19 - Introduced pdf February 15, 2019
• AB677 View text html

Action History

1. October 12, 2019

   Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 805, Statutes of 2019.

2. October 12, 2019

   Approved by the Governor.

3. September 13, 2019

   Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.

4. September 09, 2019

   Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 3125.).

5. September 05, 2019

   In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after September 7 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.

6. September 04, 2019

   Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2519.).

7. September 03, 2019

   Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

8. August 30, 2019

   Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

9. August 30, 2019

   From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 30).

10. July 01, 2019

    In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

11. June 19, 2019

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 18). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

12. June 06, 2019

    Referred to Com. on JUD.

13. May 24, 2019

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

14. May 23, 2019

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 1872.)

15. May 20, 2019

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

16. May 16, 2019

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (May 16).

17. April 03, 2019

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

18. March 26, 2019

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

19. March 21, 2019

    Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

20. March 20, 2019

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.

21. February 28, 2019

    Referred to Com. on JUD.

22. February 19, 2019

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.

23. February 15, 2019

    Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

• Steven S. Choi · Primary
• Voepel · Cosponsor

Votes

Subjects