§2903 — Title 14 Coast Guard | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary must run a program that pays back Coast Guard members for certain costs they pay when adopting a child under 18. The program covers adoptions by single parents, infant adoptions, intercountry adoptions, and adoptions of children with special needs. Reimbursement happens only after the adoption is final, and the government will not pay for any costs already covered by other federal, state, or local adoption benefit programs. No more than $2,000 may be paid for a single adoption to a member (or to two Coast Guard members who are spouses), and no more than $5,000 may be paid to a member (or two member spouses) in any calendar year. The Secretary will write the rules for the program. “Qualifying adoption expenses” are reasonable, necessary costs tied to a legal adoption arranged by a qualified adoption agency and do not include travel or costs from illegal adoptions. Examples of covered costs are agency and placement fees (including foreign agency fees and counseling), certain legal fees and court costs not available under other military law, and medical costs for the birth mother and newborn. A “qualified adoption agency” means a state or local child-placement agency, an authorized nonprofit adoption agency, or another state-approved source if the adoption is supervised by a court.

Title 14, §2903

Coast Guard — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall carry out a program under which a member of the Coast Guard may be reimbursed, as provided in this section, for qualifying adoption expenses incurred by the member in the adoption of a child under 18 years of age.

(b)An adoption for which expenses may be reimbursed under this section includes an adoption by a single individual, an infant adoption, an intercountry adoption, and an adoption of a child with special needs (as defined in section 473(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 673(c))).

(c)Benefits paid under this section in the case of an adoption may be paid only after the adoption is final.

(d)A benefit may not be paid under this section for any expense paid to or for a member of the Coast Guard under any other adoption benefits program administered by the Federal Government or under any such program administered by a State or local government.

(e)(1)Not more than $2,000 may be paid under this section to a member of the Coast Guard, or to two such members who are spouses of each other, for expenses incurred in the adoption of a child.

(2)Not more than $5,000 may be paid under this section to a member of the Coast Guard, or to two such members who are spouses of each other, for adoptions by such member (or members) in any calendar year.

(f)The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section.

(g)In this section:

(1)The term “qualifying adoption expenses” means reasonable and necessary expenses that are directly related to the legal adoption of a child under 18 years of age, but only if such adoption is arranged by a qualified adoption agency. Such term does not include any expense incurred—

(A)by an adopting parent for travel; or

(B)in connection with an adoption arranged in violation of Federal, State, or local law.

(2)The term “reasonable and necessary expenses” includes—

(A)public and private agency fees, including adoption fees charged by an agency in a foreign country;

(B)placement fees, including fees charged adoptive parents for counseling;

(C)legal fees (including court costs) in connection with services that are unavailable to a member of the Coast Guard under section 1044 or 1044a of title 10; and

(D)medical expenses, including hospital expenses of the biological mother of the child to be adopted and of a newborn infant to be adopted.

(3)The term “qualified adoption agency” means any of the following:

(A)A State or local government agency which has responsibility under State or local law for child placement through adoption.

(B)A nonprofit, voluntary adoption agency which is authorized by State or local law to place children for adoption.

(C)Any other source authorized by a State to provide adoption placement if the adoption is supervised by a court under State or local law.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 2903 was renumbered section 5103 of this title.

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “individual” for “person”. 2018—Pub. L. 115–282 renumbered section 541 of this title as this section. 2014—Pub. L. 113–281 renumbered section 514 of this title as this section. 1996—Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 104–201, § 652(b)(1), substituted “qualified adoption agency.” for “State or local government agency which has responsibility under State or local law for child placement through adoption or by a nonprofit, voluntary adoption agency which is authorized by State or local law to place children for adoption.” Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 104–201, § 652(b)(2), added par. (3). 1992—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–484 inserted a close parenthesis before period at end.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Dec. 5, 1991, and applicable to adoptions completed on or after that date, see section 651(c) of Pub. L. 102–190, set out as a note under section 1052 of Title 10, Armed Forces. Reimbursement for Adoptions Completed During Interim Between Test and Permanent ProgramFor provisions relating to reimbursement for adoption expenses and time period for application, see section 652 of Pub. L. 102–484, set out as a note under section 1052 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

§2903 Reimbursement for Adoption Expenses