A bipartisan group of Ohio lawmakers introduced a bill to modernize and streamline the adoption process across the state.
House Bill (HB) 5, known as The Adoption Modernization Act, sponsored by State Representatives Sharon Ray (R-Wadsworth) and Rachel Baker (D-Cincinnati), aims to provide financial support for expecting mothers, expedite kinship care, and clarify Ohio law to help streamline the adoption process.
According to Ray, this is necessary legislation for Ohio.
“Modernizing the adoption process is a step in the right direction for our state. Ohio families and children need this legislation. Every child deserves a home and love, period. I will continue to work to make this a reality in our state,” Ray said.
First, the bill would provide financial support for expectant mothers by increasing financial support from $3,000 to $10,000 for living expenses to support the mother’s and child’s health and well-being.
Current Ohio law requires a six-month waiting period for foster-to-adopt scenarios before an adoption can occur. Current law also allows time spent in the foster home to be counted towards the six-month waiting period. HB 5 extends this practice to kinship caregivers, ultimately expediting the adoption process for the child’s family members.
The bill clarifies the Ohio Revised Code to help streamline the adoption process. According to Ray, they are working with probate judges across the state to develop recommendations to update current law to align the adoption process with Supreme Court precedent, increase consistency from county to county, and address the unnecessarily long length and cost to finalize certain adoptions.
Chief Magistrate Kelly Green at the Franklin County Probate Court said it’s critical to update the current law to streamline the adoption process in Ohio.
“Improving and streamlining the adoption process is important to Ohio families. If you look at Supreme Court reporting statistics, the data shows there has been a slight decrease in the number of finalized adoptions. With the increasing number of children in need of foster and adopting families, this is a trend we need to reverse,” Green said.
According to Baker, this bill prioritizes people over process.
“This bill prioritizes people over burdensome processes that limit opportunities for our children. All children deserve the opportunity to succeed and be supported in loving homes,” Baker said.
Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis praised Ray for introducing this adoption reform legislation and pledged his support.
“Proud to stand with Pro-Life State Representative Sharon Ray and support her Adoption Reform legislation. This is a deeply personal issue for me. I look forward to helping Sharon get this done!” Gonidakis said.
According to data published by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, there are currently almost 15,000 children in foster care statewide and 3,500 awaiting adoption.
The bill awaits consideration by the House Families and Aging Committee.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Sharon Ray” by The Ohio House of Representatives. Photo “Rachel Baker” by The Ohio House of Representatives. Background Photo “Ohio Statehouse” by â±®. CC BY-SA 4.0.
