SR771: SR771 Senate Study Committee on Adoption and Permanency Affordability; create

26 LC 65 0070 Senate Resolution 771 By: Senators Robertson of the 29th, Strickland of the 42nd, Tillery of the 19th, Setzler of the 37th, Anavitarte of the 31st and others ADOPTED SENATE A RESOLUTION Creating the Senate Study Committee on Adoption and Permanency Affordability; and for1 other purposes.2 WHEREAS, the State of Georgia has a compelling interest in prom oting the welfare of3 children, ensuring safe and permanent family placements, and su pporting policies that4 encourage adoption and permanency for children who cannot remai n with their biological5 families; and6 WHEREAS, adoption serves as a critical permanency outcome for children placed through7 private, domestic, and international adoption systems, offering long-term stability and8 improved life outcomes; and9 WHEREAS, despite broad public support for adoption, many prospective adoptive families10 report that the financial costs of adoption present a significa nt barrier to entry, even for11 families otherwise willing and qualified to adopt; and12 WHEREAS, the total costs of adoption include, but are not limited to, home studies, agency13 fees, legal representation, court costs, background checks, tra ining requirements,14 S. R. 771 - 1 - 26 LC 65 0070 post-placement supervision, interstate compact compliance, and related administrative15 expenses; and16 WHEREAS, adoption costs can var y significantly d epending on the type of adoption17 pursued, including private domestic adoption, relative or kinship adoption, and international18 adoption, creating disparities in access and affordability; and19 WHEREAS, concerns have been raised regarding whether certain regulatory, administrative,20 or procedural requirements, while well-intended, may unnecessar ily increase costs, delay21 permanency, or discourage prospective adoptive parents; and22 WHEREAS, Georgia law addresses adoption across multiple titles of the Official Code of23 Georgia Annotated, including but not limited to Title 19 and Ti tle 49, which may benefit24 from coordinated review to ensure efficiency; and25 WHEREAS, questions have arisen as to whether Georgia's current adoption framework26 adequately balances child safety, family integrity, and administrative oversight with the goal27 of timely and affordable permanency; and28 WHEREAS, tax credits, deductions, employer based benefits, gran ts, and other financial29 incentives have been used at the federal and state levels to offset adoption related expenses,30 yet the accessibility, adequacy, and effectiveness of such ince ntives may warrant further31 evaluation; and32 WHEREAS, adoptive parents of children with special needs face a dditional financial and33 logistical challenges, including medical, therapeutic, educatio nal, and long-term support34 costs, which can affect adoption outcomes and permanency stability; and35 S. R. 771 - 2 - 26 LC 65 0070 WHEREAS, faith based organizations, nonprofit agencies, private adoption providers, and36 state licensed child-placing agencies play a significant role in Georgia's adoption ecosystem,37 and their regulatory obligations, cost structures, and service models may merit review; and38 WHEREAS, other states have undertaken reforms in recent years t o streamline adoption39 procedures, reduce unnecessary costs, expand tax incentives, an d promote permanency40 outcomes, providing potential models for Georgia to consider; and41 WHEREAS, a study committee is needed to evaluate whether Georgi a's adoption systems42 could be improved through legislative, administrative, or fisca l reforms, including43 consideration of:44 (1) The primary cost drivers associated with adoption in Georgia;45 (2) The impact of state and federal regulatory requirements on adoption affordability and46 timelines;47 (3) Whether existing fees, licensing requirements, or procedur al mandates could be48 clarified, streamlined, or modernized while maintaining child safety;49 (4) The availability and effectiveness of state tax credits, d eductions, or other financial50 incentives related to adoption;51 (5) The interaction between state adoption policies and federal programs or benefits;52 (6) Barriers faced by middle-income families seeking to adopt;53 (7) Adoption outcomes for children with special needs or complex medical or behavioral54 needs;55 (8) The role of public-private partnerships in expanding adoption access; and56 (9) Potential legislative options to promote timely, safe, and affordable permanency for57 children; and58 S. R. 771 - 3 - 26 LC 65 0070 WHEREAS, a comprehensive study involving legislators, child wel fare professionals,59 adoption agencies, adoptive parents, legal practitioners, econo mists, faith based60 organizations, and other stakeholders is necessary to fully understand the conditions, needs,61 gaps, and opportunities for reform.62 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:63 (1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Study Committee64 on Adoption and Permanency Affordability.65 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of at least five members66 of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate. The President shall67 designate a legislative member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.68 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,69 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or70 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.71 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee72 may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or73 convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and74 accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.75 (5) Allowances and funding.76 (A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided77 for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.78 (B) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member79 of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds80 necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds81 appropriated to the Senate.82 (6) Report.83 S. R. 771 - 4 - 26 LC 65 0070 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that84 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the85 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to86 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.87 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for88 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)89 of this paragraph.90 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of91 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.92 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with93 the Secretary of the Senate.94 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary95 of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.96 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.97 S. R. 771 - 5 -