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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2005
Contact: Tracy Polovick
Coordinator of Communications and Outreach
(717) 787-8524
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Vance Proposes Legislation to Streamline Foreign Adoption Procedures

HARRISBURG – All parents who adopt children from another country would follow a simplified procedure to register the adoption in Pennsylvania under legislation introduced by Sen. Patricia Vance (R-Cumberland/York).

"Foreign adoption procedures vary from county to county in Pennsylvania resulting in some parents encountering burdensome costs and paperwork," Vance said. "This should not be the case as these parents have just completed a rigorous process in the child's birth country and are trying to create family bonds, not navigate bureaucratic processes. My legislation will implement an efficient and parent-friendly adoption process."

Senate Bill 332 would allow a parent to file a final foreign adoption decree with the clerk of the Orphans' Court. The clerk would then be required to issue to the adopting parent or parents a certificate of the adoption stating it has been registered in the county court. Additionally, the clerk would be required to send a certificate of the adoption to the Office of Vital Statistics for filing. The bill would permit counties to still charge a filing fee to cover the costs associated with issuing the certificates, which must be in accordance with its already approved fee schedule and not be financially burdensome to families.

Additionally, the legislation will permit persons seeking to register a foreign adoption to do so without the need to obtain counsel and without the need for a formal hearing.

Vance's district includes all of Cumberland County and Carroll, Fairview, Franklin, Monaghan, Warrington and Washington townships and Dillsburg, Franklintown and Wellsville boroughs in York County.