Representative Jim Buchy Yesterday evening, Representative Jim Buchy offered sponsor testimony for HB 307 which eliminates unnecessary costs, protects birth parents and adoptive couples, prevents fraud and minimizes the bureaucracy in the Ohio adoption process. The goal of the adoption reform legislation is to eliminate the countless and unnecessary roadblocks with adoption. The bill is co-sponsored by Representative Dorothy Pelanda.
"Placing the best interests of the birth parents and adoptive couples ahead of the bureaucracy, lawyers, and special interests will allow more Ohioans to adopt infants in a safe and effective manner" said Kayla Smith, Director of Legislative Affairs at Ohio Right to Life. "The outdated and expensive business model of adoption has harmed too many families and we thank Representative Buchy for his leadership to address this critical issue."
Many Ohio families believe infant domestic adoptions to be too expensive due to an accumulation of fees throughout the adoption process. The proposed legislation will reduce unnecessary expenses and eliminate fraud. Additionally, the current adoption $1,500 tax credit will increase to $10,000 to provide the gift of adoption to those middle income families who otherwise could not afford the process.
The new law will provide a birth father with pre-birth notice if the mother chooses an adoption plan during pregnancy. This notice allows the father to declare or deny parental rights before the birth of his child, thus expediting the finalization of the adoption, while ensuring a smoother transition for the child, the birth parents and the adopting family.
Furthermore, the bill would allow for the adoption decree to be challenged for up to 60 days, rather than the current provision of 12 months, relieving the adoptive family from an unnecessary emotional burden, while still safeguarding the birth parents' rights.
"Placing the best interests of the birth parents and adoptive couples ahead of the bureaucracy, lawyers, and special interests will allow more Ohioans to adopt infants in a safe and effective manner" said Kayla Smith, Director of Legislative Affairs at Ohio Right to Life. "The outdated and expensive business model of adoption has harmed too many families and we thank Representative Buchy for his leadership to address this critical issue."
Many Ohio families believe infant domestic adoptions to be too expensive due to an accumulation of fees throughout the adoption process. The proposed legislation will reduce unnecessary expenses and eliminate fraud. Additionally, the current adoption $1,500 tax credit will increase to $10,000 to provide the gift of adoption to those middle income families who otherwise could not afford the process.
The new law will provide a birth father with pre-birth notice if the mother chooses an adoption plan during pregnancy. This notice allows the father to declare or deny parental rights before the birth of his child, thus expediting the finalization of the adoption, while ensuring a smoother transition for the child, the birth parents and the adopting family.
Furthermore, the bill would allow for the adoption decree to be challenged for up to 60 days, rather than the current provision of 12 months, relieving the adoptive family from an unnecessary emotional burden, while still safeguarding the birth parents' rights.
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