HB946: Adoption; period of validity of home study.

Chief Patron

Sal Iaquinto (R-84)
Virginia Beach, VA
Served: 2006–

Progress

	Introduced
	Passed Committee
	Passed House
	Passed Senate
	Signed by Governor
	Became Law

Status

03/08/2008: enacted

View Entire History

01/08/2008 Committee
01/08/2008 Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/08 088507560
01/08/2008 Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions
01/15/2008 Impact statement from DPB (HB946)
01/17/2008 Reported from Health, Welfare and Institutions with amendments (22-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/18/2008 Read first time
01/21/2008 Read second time
01/21/2008 Committee amendments agreed to
01/21/2008 Engrossed by House as amended HB946E
01/21/2008 Printed as engrossed 088507560-E
01/22/2008 Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (97-Y 0-N)
01/22/2008 VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (97-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/22/2008 Communicated to Senate
01/23/2008 Constitutional reading dispensed
01/23/2008 Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services
01/23/2008 Impact statement from DPB (HB946E)
02/15/2008 Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendment (15-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/18/2008 Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/19/2008 Read third time
02/19/2008 Reading of amendment waived
02/19/2008 Committee amendment agreed to
02/19/2008 Engrossed by Senate as amended
02/19/2008 Passed Senate with amendment (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/20/2008 Placed on Calendar
02/21/2008 Passed by for the day
02/22/2008 Passed by for the day
02/25/2008 Senate amendment agreed to by House (96-Y 0-N)
02/25/2008 VOTE: --- ADOPTION (96-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/27/2008 Enrolled
02/27/2008 Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB946ER)
02/27/2008 Signed by Speaker
02/28/2008 Impact statement from DPB (HB946ER)
02/28/2008 Signed by President
03/06/2008 Governor's recommendation received by House
03/06/2008 Placed on Calendar
03/07/2008 House concurred in Governor's recommendation (96-Y 0-N)
03/07/2008 VOTE: --- ADOPTION (96-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/08/2008 Enacted, Chapter (effective 7/1/08)
03/08/2008 Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (33-Y 7-N) (see vote tally)
03/08/2008 G Governor's recommendation adopted
03/08/2008 Reenrolled
03/08/2008 Reenrolled bill text (HB946ER2)
03/08/2008 Signed by Speaker as reenrolled
03/08/2008 Signed by President as reenrolled
03/08/2008 Enacted, Chapter 494 (effective 7/1/08)
03/14/2008 G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0494)

Summary

Adoption; period of validity of home study. Provides that any home study conducted for the purpose of parental placement shall be approved for a period of 18 months from the date of completion of the study.

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Video

Votes were cast on this bill on the following dates for which Richmond Sunlight has video: 01/21/2008, 01/21/2008, 01/22/2008, 01/22/2008, 01/23/2008, 01/23/2008, 02/18/2008, 02/18/2008, 02/19/2008, 02/19/2008, 02/20/2008, 02/21/2008, 02/22/2008, 02/22/2008, 02/25/2008, 02/28/2008, 02/28/2008, 03/06/2008, 03/07/2008 and 03/07/2008.

Comments

Cathy writes:

Thank you so much for this bill. As an adoptive parent pursuing international adoption, I know first hand how much time it takes from home study completion to State Department approval to referral for a child. Our home study is about to expire, and we only now have all the paperwork and clearances to submit to the Ethiopian government. We will have to pay for a home study renewal, and go through the scrutiny all over again. Another 6 months, in our case, would have been a great thing.

Posted 8 months ago. #

Kelly Huntley writes:

Thank you so much for considering this bill. International adoptions are taking longer and longer and having a home study expire in the middle of the process is an unnecessary frustration and leads to additional expense.

Posted 8 months ago. #

Lee Jarratt writes:

Adoption Policy

10.D.13 Renewal Process

The agency will re-approve the applicant prior to the placement of a child if the home study is older than 24 months.

Currrent state adoption policies and state agency approved provider standards/regulations requires renewal every 24 months and that child placing agencies have to adhere to that minimum requirement, but can choose to require a shorter timeframe between renewals. If your understanding is correct, than you’re not clear how HB946 will assist in lengthening the time period for renewal of adoptive families working through child placing agencies. My wife and I have three internationally adopted children and I am not sure the bill will accomplish what you are hoping it will. The current state policy is that home studies are approved for 24 months, but the individual child placing agencies can require those families adopting through there organization to more stringent time frames. The bill as introduced will shorten the approval period, not lengthen it which will not be good for the families in this process.

Posted 8 months ago. #

Sal Iaquinto writes:

Lee,

The bill was amended to make the home study valid for 24 months for all adoptions. This should make everything equal.

Posted 8 months ago. #

Catherine E. Cook, MDIV, MA, QMHP, writes:

Wholeheartedly supportive! Long over due!

Posted 7 months ago. #