It’s been 30 years since Georgia saw changes to the state’s adoption bill. But Saturday, House Bill 159 — approved by Legislators during the 2018 session of the General Assembly — became effective, putting “Georgia on par with the rest of the nation and ensuring residents of the state can adopt and stay in Georgia to do so,” according to Representative Bert Reeves (R-Marietta).
Reeves, who sponsored the adoption bill, said the new law could help expedite foster-care adoptions but more work needs to be done. “We took a great first step with adoption and now we must focus even more on our children who are our most vulnerable population.”
The bill as signed into law in March by Gov. Nathan Deal.
“This law makes it easier for Georgia’s most vulnerable children to find permanent, stable and loving homes,” said Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge). “Representative Reeves worked tirelessly to champion this cause so that every child in Georgia can be part of a family. We owe him heartfelt thanks for his efforts.”
“When this law goes into effect, it will make it easier for prospective parents to navigate the adoption process and adopt a child right here in Georgia,” said Rep. Reeves. “I want to thank the judges and attorneys, particularly the Georgia Council for Adoption Lawyers, who helped us refine and perfect this legislation. My thanks also to Governor Deal for his steadfast leadership on this important issue, as well as to all my colleagues in the General Assembly for their support.”
House Bill 159 will allow increased efficiencies in all aspects of Georgia adoption, including the first-ever incorporation of a process to domesticate international adoption decrees. The bill expands jurisdictional options for both in state and out of state adoptions. It also eliminates the six month residency requirement in Georgia.
Additionally, Georgia law will now have a shorter revocation period, from 10 days to four days. Georgia’s current 10-day revocation period is one of most rigorous revocation policies in the nation, and HB 159 seeks to strike the right balance between the rights of birth mothers and the adoptive parents by shortening this revocation period.
According to officials, this bill will allow birth mothers to receive reasonable living expenses in both private and agency adoptions. Under current law, only birth mothers in agency adoptions are allowed reasonable living expenses. Reeves said this change seeks to create a level playing field and give all birth mothers equal access to reasonable living expenses, regardless of which type of adoption they go through. This is the law in most states in the country.
Also, the bill includes several safeguards on temporary powers of attorney, provides for nonresidents to adopt a child, updates maternity and paternity leave time for new adoptive parents and changes the age at which an individual may access the Adoption Reunion Registry.
Read more on HB 159 here.
