SB 287
ADOPTION
 (Niehaus, T. – R)
Companion Bill - HB 529

Introduced to Senate: March 9, 2006
Assigned to Senate Health, Human Services and Aging Committee (Coughlin)
Substitute Bill Accepted / Second Hearing: May 10, 2006 

Amended into SB 238, which was signed by the Governor June 21, 2006; and is effective September 19, 2006

The Adoption Reform bills (SB 287 and HB 529) were on the fast track, as they had been heralded as top priority items for Governor Taft and leadership in both houses of the General Assembly.  This bill (and its identical companion bill, HB 529) was amended into SB 238.  PCSAO was very supportive of the bill as passed, having had significant input into its drafting, starting with the two Adoption Partnership Forums hosted by ODJFS in December 2005 and January 2006 (attended by over 100 public and private professionals); and then participating in “Interested Party” meetings hosted by the sponsors, with about 30 other individuals representing ODJFS, the Governor’s Office, private provider agencies, resource families, juvenile and probate courts, CCAO, and OJFSDA. You can view an outline of what was in the final version of SB 238 as signed by Governor Taft, through the link below for SB 238 Outline – As Signed by Governor or go directly to the SB 238 webpage at http://www.pcsao.org/sb238.htm .