The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard Rep. Torr’s HB 1014 on unauthorized adoption advertising. The bill provides that the law concerning unauthorized adoption advertising does not apply to a federal agency, the Indiana Department of Child Services, an attorney licensed to practice law in Indiana, a child placing agency licensed under the laws of Indiana; and a person seeking to adopt a child on the person’s own behalf. Current law provides that only a person that is an attorney licensed to practice law in Indiana and a child placing agency licensed under the laws of Indiana may place an advertisement concerning adoption and the law concerning unauthorized adoption advertising may not be enforced against a federal agency or the Indiana Department of Child Services. The bill also removes a provision that requires an attorney licensed to practice law in Indiana and a child placing agency licensed under the laws of Indiana to include certain information in an advertisement regarding adoption.
The bill was amended by consent to make certain technical amendments. An adoption attorney, and Representatives of ABL Adoptions and Bond of Life Adoptions, testified in support of the bill. The amended bill passed 8-1.
Read the bill here: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2019/bills/house/1014