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Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§14911 Designation of Central Authority

Title 42 › CHAPTER 143 — INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTIONS › SUBCHAPTER I — UNITED STATES CENTRAL AUTHORITY › § 14911

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Makes the Department of State the United States’ central authority for the Convention and names the Secretary of State as its head. The Secretary must carry out all central authority duties for the Convention unless another part of the law says otherwise. Staff in the Office of Children’s Issues who do core work must have strong consular experience, personal experience with international adoption, or professional experience in international adoptions or child services. The Secretary may make rules needed to do these duties unless the law provides otherwise.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §14911

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general
For purposes of the Convention and this chapter—
(1)the Department of State shall serve as the central authority of the United States; and
(2)the Secretary shall serve as the head of the central authority of the United States.
(b)Performance of central authority functions
(1)Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the Secretary shall be responsible for the performance of all central authority functions for the United States under the Convention and this chapter.
(2)All personnel of the Department of State performing core central authority functions in a professional capacity in the Office of Children’s Issues shall have a strong background in consular affairs, personal experience in international adoptions, or professional experience in international adoptions or child services.
(c)Authority to issue regulations
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the Secretary may prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out central authority functions on behalf of the United States.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a), (b)(1), and (c), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 106–279, Oct. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 825, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 14901 of this title and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 6, 2000, with transition rule, see section 505(a)(1), (b) of Pub. L. 106–279, set out as an

Effective Date

s; Transition Rule note under section 14901 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 14911

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110