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Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§5114 Study and Report of Unlicensed or Unregulated Adoption Placements

Title 42 › CHAPTER 67 — CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT AND ADOPTION REFORM › SUBCHAPTER II — ADOPTION OPPORTUNITIES › § 5114

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Direct the Secretary to study interstate and, when possible, intrastate placements of children into adoptive homes (not including stepparents or relatives) and report to Congress no later than eighteen months after June 25, 2003. The study must cover the size and effects of these placements, how interstate placements are paid for, recommended best-practice models for both interstate and intrastate adoptions, and how States classify "special needs" children. Require the Secretary to research adoption outcomes and factors that affect them and report to Congress 36 months after June 25, 2003, and to submit within 1 year after June 25, 2003 recommendations for a plan to help adopt foster children across jurisdictions.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §5114

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

(a)In general
The Secretary shall provide for a study (the results of which shall be reported to the appropriate committees of the Congress not later than eighteen months after June 25, 2003) designed to determine—
(1)the nature, scope, and effects of the interstate (and, to the extent feasible, intrastate) placement of children in adoptive homes (not including the homes of stepparents or relatives of the child in question) by persons or agencies.
(2)how interstate placements are being financed across State lines;
(3)recommendations on best practice models for both interstate and intrastate adoptions; and
(4)how State policies in defining special needs children differentiate or group similar categories of children.
(b)Dynamics of successful adoption
The Secretary shall conduct research (directly or by grant to, or contract with, public or private nonprofit research agencies or organizations) about adoption outcomes and the factors affecting those outcomes. The Secretary shall submit a report containing the results of such research to the appropriate committees of the Congress not later than the date that is 36 months after June 25, 2003.
(c)Interjurisdictional adoption
Not later than 1 year after June 25, 2003, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of the Congress a report that contains recommendations for an action plan to facilitate the interjurisdictional adoption of foster children.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2003—Pub. L. 108–36 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted subsec. heading and par. (1) designation, substituted “
June 25, 2003” for “
April 24, 1978” and “to determine—” for “to determine”, struck out “which are not licensed by or subject to regulation by any governmental entity” after “by persons or agencies”, and added pars. (2) to (4) and subsecs. (b) and (c).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 5114

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110